New research from CV-Library reveals that the majority (77.5 per cent) of Brits don’t want a job that involves travelling. In fact, a further 28 per cent claim that they would decline a job offer if it meant they had to travel.
The survey of 1,200 UK workers sought to reveal how Brits feel about travel-heavy jobs, revealing that half (52.4 per cent) of UK professionals would not like to travel abroad for work. What’s more, the study asked professionals to explain what they felt the worst parts about travelling for work were, revealing:
- Missing out on time with friends and family – 51.9 per cent
- The time it takes to travel – 14.7 per cent
- Jet lag and feeling fatigued – 13.5 per cent
- Living out of a suitcase – 12.1 per cent
- Giving up weekends or free time – 7.9 per cent
Lee Biggins founder and managing director of CV-Library comments, ‘Many of us have experienced how exhausting travelling can be, whether that’s from jet lag, long journeys or getting little sleep. So it’s understandable that UK workers are worried about the effects of travel on their health. The research shows that because of this, many professionals don’t want to combine work and travel.
‘As an employer, you can help staff to prioritise their health and wellbeing by making sure you give them enough time off to recuperate after any work-related travels. Also, keep the lines of communication so you can quickly identify when someone may be heading towards burnout. After all, there may be better solutions, especially with modern technology meaning you could conduct meetings over Skype and so on.’
Further findings from the study reveal that there’s a clear generational gap when it comes to those who want to travel abroad for work and those who don’t. In fact, the younger generation seem most keen to travel, with 64.6 per cent of 25-35 year olds stating that they would like this opportunity, rising to 78.1 per cent amongst under 18 years. On the other hand, just 38.4 per cent of professionals aged 45-54 said they would like to travel abroad for work, falling to 33.7 per cent amongst those aged 55-64.
Biggins continues, ‘It’s only natural that the younger generation would be more open to travelling for work – given that they will have less responsibilities such as childcare and mortgages. Our data tells us that the majority of young people want to travel as part of their job so they can see different places and experience different cultures. If your businesses has a new travel opportunity available, have catch-ups with staff and try to assign these roles to those who want the work-aboard experience.’
Further reading on travelling for work
