News

Homesickness 'affects 60% of business travellers'

12 Jul 2015 by GrahamSmith

Sixty per cent of business travellers suffer from homesickness, according to a survey.

A poll of 2,000 businessmen and women found that 47 per cent said they work less effectively when away from home and that 38 per cent think of home every hour.

The study by hotel booking website laterooms.com also found that 8 per cent of business travellers blamed being homesick for a drop in productivity while on the road.

A third of respondents said they combat homesickness by keeping busy in the evenings, with 57 per cent admitting they make more of their free time when away with work than they would at home.

The survey also found that:

  • 25 per cent are more likely to dine out with friends/colleagues than when at home
  • 17 per cent visit local galleries and exhibitions, the theatre or cinema
  • 10 per cent make the most of their work trips by trying out a new experience
  • 23 per cent prefer to stay in their hotel room
  • 75 per cent of over-55-year-olds said working away is beneficial to their relationships as it gives them some time apart from their partner
  • 47 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds said travelling for work had caused relationship problems
  • 78 per cent limit homesickness by contacting their loved one(s) at least once each day
  • 9 per cent said they never contact friends and family at home when working away.

Andrea Tarpey, spokesperson for laterooms.com, said: "We were surprised by the extent to which people feel their work trips affect their productivity and relationships, but it was quite refreshing to see the number of people that are making the most of their time away from home by doing something out of the ordinary – compared to 65 per cent of people that spent a typical evening at home in front of the TV.

"Luckily, modern technology means it's much easier to keep in touch with our loved ones – six out of 10 people we surveyed said that contacting home improved both their mood and work performance."

Graham Smith

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