The research reveals that three quarters (76%) of business traveller respondents felt under pressure to work normally even when travelling.
Most under pressure are professionals, largely male, in the 50-59 and 60+ age groups. Those under the least pressure were in the 18-29 age group (57.1%), which could indicate a move to more relaxed attitude to mobile working in the younger generations and a significant business traveller generation gap.
Julie Hurst, Director of the Work Life Balance Centre, comments: “As iBAHN’s survey shows, too many organisations are still focusing on the measure of the numbers of hours worked, rather than measuring objectives achieved. This is one of the most fundamental issues holding back the balance between working life and private life, and is especially relevant in the time sensitive business traveller environment where time zone differences can encourage long days, but not necessarily productive ones.”
Graeme Powell, managing director EMEA, iBAHN, comments: “The business traveller has a daily challenge to face in the form of getting to their destination while maintaining levels of productivity. The traditional approach is to make time on the move using available connectivity, but this often creates more stress and can result in poorer quality work. The age gap shown in our figures suggests that mobile working is the norm for the next generation of business travellers, but what will be the cost to work/life balance in the future?”
iBAHN’s worldwide HSIA (high-speed internet access) network provides broadband services via a range of hospitality partners. Business travellers have the option to use wired or wireless premium (HSIA) for a daily or weekly charge, or in some cases for free, in the relaxed and stress free surroundings of a hotel room, lobby or bar.
