New research from CV-Library, the UK’s leading independent job board, reveals that the majority (77.5%) of Brits DON’T want a job that involves travelling. In fact, a further 28% 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 over half (52.4%) 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%
- The time it takes to travel - 14.7%
- Jet lag and feeling fatigued - 13.5%
- Living out of a suitcase - 12.1%
- Giving up weekends or free time - 7.9%
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% of 25-35 year olds stating that they would like this opportunity, rising to 78.1% amongst under 18 years. On the other hand, just 38.4% of professionals aged 45-54 said they would like to travel abroad for work, falling to 33.7% 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.”
