Adam Knights says companies preparing to recommence business travel can learn from those that didn't stop
While the vast majority of
business travel was brought to a halt by the Covid-19 pandemic, some areas of
industry continued their movements and we can learn a lot about duty of care
best practice from these sectors.
Essential industries such as
oil and gas, shipping, healthcare and food have all had to keep moving in order
to ensure the right goods and services are where they are needed.
The measures in place to achieve the safest
possible movement of people during an almost global lockdown provides valuable
learnings for others planning when and how to reintroduce international travel.
Whilst duty of care is always essential, there are times when cost comes
into play. If a situation can be made safer with significant cost outlay, then
sometimes it means that the particular travel scenario in question is not
possible. With Covid-19 a reality for travel everywhere in the world, essential
travel cannot be stalled because of cost implication.
Travel policies will need to take into account that fares worldwide are
likely to soar. There are many factors at play: from demand to enhanced
cleaning time and procedures, as well as the reality that flights and hotels
will likely operate at reduced capacity for some time in order to keep people
safe.
For some businesses, reducing the volume of trips to manage this cost
will be one option. But for others their businesses cannot function without travel. Increased
costs will have implications for everyone, in all stages of the value chain.
There is also the challenge that not all airlines and airports around
the world are interpreting World Health Organisation guidelines in the same way,
and social distancing has meant different things in different nations.
In addition, restrictions applicable to one person of a specific
nationality, or with recent travel to a certain destination, are not the same
as to another.
It is important that an organisation draws up their own traveller safety
guidelines outlining the duty of care policy the business takes. These guidelines
need to give confidence to travellers on what is the safest possible approach.
If an airline is not keeping middle seats empty, for example, it could
mean upgrading to business class or even booking two economy seats. There are
cost and availability challenges to address with this scenario.
When in transit travellers will experience different approaches to
managing the risk of Covid-19 infection too. Some international airports
require all arrivals to remain in the airport arrivals terminal until they have
taken a Covid-19 test and the result is available. Others require temperature
checks and conduct tracing activity so that there is a route to establish if a
traveller could have come into contact with an infected person.
All these factors add time and barriers into a journey. Not only do
travellers need to know what to expect, and be equipped to handle all the
possible aspects, they also need to be prepared for the added time it takes to
complete a journey. Giving due diligence to wellbeing and equipping travellers
to have the mental resilience to cope is key. Duty of care does not end when
someone steps off a flight.
For some organisations this has meant conducting their own testing and
enforcing their own quarantine requirements to make all aspects of travel safer
for everyone. Quarantine is a travel reality in some parts of the world,
particularly as border restrictions begin to ease and nations protect their
virus reproduction rate.
In many cases quarantine makes business travel almost impossible. Our
sector has been working hard to lobby policy makers to amend quarantine
decisions in order to allow travel, and in turn aid economies towards the first
steps of recovery. This requires trust that the sector places the highest value
on duty of care to its people and all those they come into contact with.
People are businesses’ greatest asset and their wellbeing must be
protected. The stronger the duty of care approach, the more likely that regular
business travel can return for the long term. Business travel’s reputation and
recovery rests on getting it right.