Nearly half of Australian employees surveyed face mental health concerns while travelling for work

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Employees also revealed that they feel exhausted (33%), stressed (31%), and lonely (23%).

Close to half of the business travellers surveyed in Australia are concerned about their mental health while travelling for work.

In fact, according to an Opinium survey commissioned by World Travel Protection, involving 500 people in the country who travel for business at least once a year, 47% have expressed concerns over anxiety and extreme panic. Employees also revealed that they feel exhausted (33%), stressed (31%), and lonely (23%).

Further, 41% said they feel homesick or miss their family while they are on the road, markedly higher than their global counterparts (32% of American travellers report homesickness, followed by 16% of UK respondents).

Commenting on the findings, Neil Slabbert, World Travel Protection Regional Chief Medical Officer (Asia Pacific), said: "It is crucial to an organisation’s overall productivity that employees are prepared and receive care and support prior to business travel and during the travel.” 

"While staff are away from home, they are without their usual routines and creature comforts, not to mention loved ones to lean on. Shifts in time zones, last-minute changes to their schedule, insufficient sleep and a sense of unpredictability can all lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety."

Exacerbating the issue, 22% the respondents had not received any information from their employer prior to an overseas work trip. As such, local customs and etiquette, plus any potential for political unrest, may not be made clear to an employee before they leave the office, it was highlighted.

Slabbert thus affirmed that employers must aim to support their employees' mental health from afar.

"Things like supporting daily family or next of kin (video) calls, downloading a wellness or meditation app to their phone and having a solid action plan in case of an emergency should all be discussed with an employee before they embark on a trip, no matter its length.

"Employees should also have contact details on hand of their medical assistance company should they require urgent care."

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