Employee mobility becomes a frequent topic in the summer months as people take holidays, whether they are travelling to destinations far and wide or staying closer to home.
Even a small change to an employee’s working routine or location can lead to additional considerations in terms of how employers provide mobility.
Flexible mobility policies should embrace travel at home and abroad, enabling employees to work globally and combine periods of work and leisure effectively, using the opportunity to visit regional offices and catch up with colleagues and customers overseas, and to stay abroad for longer periods.
The policy needs to guide employees to making business-led travel decisions, wherever they are. This could include which modes of transport can be claimed as expenses, how costs can be split if a vehicle is being used for both personal and business travel, and suppliers that are aligned with company purchasing policies. Costs can quickly accumulate if left unmanaged, as can issues relating to duty of care and risk.
Clarity on how employees can access mobility on a global basis enables companies to adapt and scale as their business grows. Businesses looking to grow their presence overseas may want to choose mobility partners with well-connected global locations, enabling interconnected solutions at railways, airports and public transport links, close to business operations.
Back on home turf, the summer may also herald changes in working practices. Colleagues may need to work more flexibly over the summer holidays, switching office or homeworking days to manage family responsibilities. Flexible mobility polices can enable employees and employers to ensure travel is streamlined and compliant with business priorities over the summer season.
Businesses wanting to reduce the costs and risks associated with grey fleet need to ensure there are clear and convenient alternative solutions. All too often, employees will default to using a private car for work when there is a change in routine. While they may also use public transport or a vehicle provided by the employer, the ease of using their own vehicle and reclaiming the mileage will often make this the preferred choice.
Employee-centric flexible travel policies can enable individuals to adapt to fluctuations in working arrangements all year round. For example, giving someone a lower-emission vehicle for an ad hoc work trip can potentially turn a stressful experience into a smooth and positive experience.
Even if your employees are not planning to take business trips while they are away this summer, there are other ways that you can support their mobility. Check whether mobility suppliers can offer fringe benefits to business customers, such as discounts on holiday rentals to help employees enjoy their time off.
Flexible, well-considered mobility policies ensure consistent and effective year-round management of risk, emissions and costs, helping cover seasonal changes in routine both at home and overseas.
As summer rolls on, whether it’s your quiet or your busy season, it’s an opportune moment to examine whether your organisation has a travel policy fit for all seasons.
Andy Bland is head of business rental development UK and Ireland for Enterprise Mobility
