Disparity between employees’ expectations for green business travel and current company policies is highlighted in new research.
The majority of travellers (75%) want to reduce their reliance on air travel for business because of the impact it has on the environment.
While two-thirds (66%) of employees expect their employer to make sustainable travel options available to them, a separate survey of business leaders reveals three quarters (74%) will still ask staff to fly for business when Covid restrictions ease.
The study of 1,000 regular business travellers and 1,000 employers in the UK showed that more than half (53%) of employees felt businesses were irresponsible before the pandemic with the level of unnecessary business travel.
Almost one in three (31%) felt they had to fly for business travel, or would risk losing their job.
But the tables have turned with Covid-19 set to usher in a new era of sustainable business travel, the Trainline study claims.
It suggests failure to offer sustainable corporate travel will become a major business issue.
As many as seven in ten employees (71%) said they think firms that do not offer sustainable business travel set a bad example for future generations.
One in five of those aged 16 to 24 would consider leaving their existing job as a result of their business travel policy.
The most important factors when assessing how sustainable an employer are use of green energy (41%), recycling policies (41%), and sustainable travel policies (34%).
Almost three quarters of staff would like employers to provide clear information about the impact of required business travel.
The survey of employers suggests improvement has been made as 64% offer more sustainable options for staff compared to 18 months’ ago but there is a long way to go to match employee expectations.
Even though 69% of businesses admit that workers were asked to fly unnecessarily pre-pandemic, 74% will still ask staff to fly for business when restrictions ease.
While three in five businesses admit that staff are increasingly asking tough questions about sustainable business travel policies, only 64% have a clear policy for reducing the impact it has on the environment.
Of the companies without a clear policy or plan for sustainable travel, more than two in five (45%) have struggled to hire staff since the pandemic.
Trainline Partner Solutions president Champa Magesh said: “The notion of travel for work is becoming increasingly fluid.
“Employers are looking for more control over an increasing variety of travel options and help making more sustainable journeys.
“Employees are asking for personalised travel solutions that are more tailored to their needs.”