The business traveller is often vulnerable to the following: - crossing many time zones
- stressful, important meetings
- isolation from family
- travel to high-risk destinations
Jet lag Business travellers should reserve time to recover from jet lag as it can seriously affect professional performance. This should be built into the trip - despite the cost of extra time away from the office. Food and drink The need to socialise with clients often makes it difficult to control consumption of food and alcohol. The pressure of work can also lead to increased alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol can lead to accidents, falls, dehydration and stomach upsets. It can delay recovery from jet lag and may increase the likelihood of risky sexual behaviour. Sexual behaviour Business travel can encourage sexual risk-taking, particularly in some cultures where it is a normal part of post-business socialising. Loneliness and a lack of social inhibiting factors can also alter behaviour. Business travellers should always use condoms and seek immunisation against Hepatitis B prior to travel. Commercial sex workers are a particularly high-risk form of contact. Psychological pressures The need to perform to a high standard in an unfamiliar environment in the absence of social support structures can bring significant emotional and psychological pressures. These need to be recognised and addressed. Travellers should attempt to resolve any outstanding relationship issues prior to departure and make efforts to maintain contact with family and friends, even where there are difficulties with time-zones and communication. Immunisations Last-minute trips can demand a tight immunisation schedule. Rapid courses of hepatitis B vaccination are available. Malaria prophylaxis Chemoprophylaxis must be tailored to the business trip. Malarone is often the most suitable option, because of its relative lack of side-effects (especially psychiatric) and requirement for only 7 days’ post-exposure use. It is expensive but the employer will often cover the costs. Travellers' diarrhoea For a particularly important short trip where even the loss of a few hours to illness would be damaging, it is worth considering antibiotics for the prevention of travellers' diarrhoea, or to be taken at the first signs of problems. Antibiotics taken twice a day can significantly reduce the risk of illness although the risk of side-effects should be taken into account as well as the possibility of developing an antibiotic-resistant infection. |