Millennials in particular view business travel as both a benefit of their role and necessary to advancing their career but they also report it has a negative impact on their relationships with family and friends, and they suffer from loneliness and isolation. They cannot be the only ones.
The importance of keeping people connected and providing sufficient flexibility to achieve a level of work life balance is high on many corporate agendas right now. Quite simply, the incoming talent demands it. A people-led company culture comes from the top and PepsiCo is a shining example of positive leadership, instituted by former chief executive of PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand Robbert Rietbroek. “‘Leaders Leaving Loudly’ is something we created to ensure that when team leaders leave, they feel comfortable doing so but also to declare it to the broader team,” Rietbroek said in an article in The Daily Telegraph Australia.
If he occasionally left the office at 4pm to pick up his daughters, he made sure he told the people around him, “‘I’m going to pick up my children.’ Because if it’s okay for the boss, then it’s okay for middle management and new hires”, said Rietbroek.
The objective was to reduce presenteeism and included in this affirmative culture was discouraging after hours and weekend emails, unless “absolutely necessary”, and flexible working, traditionally associated with women, but at PepsiCo it is encouraged across genders.
This kind of company culture is reflected in all policies, including travel. Increasingly the previously accepted step change between travel policy allowance for those select few at the top, versus the rest of the business is being challenged. Not least because safety and security matters for every employee, legally and ethically.
A considered travel policy that puts people at the heart is an indication of an organisation that is concerned about its staff. This attracts and retains the best talent and allows those people to perform to the best of their ability.