I'm faced with a travel ban. The reason this ban exists is to reduce costs. Very laudable, but I know no one who travels on business on a whim. They travel to meet clients and colleagues. They are professional, trusted people.
To travel in this climate of austerity, I have to get approval from very, very senior people. I've just done some cost calculations. If the average cost of the people involved in getting the approval is about £150,000 per annum, I reckon they cost about £90 an hour (220 working days per year and a 7.5 hour day).
Most trips I do cost about £45. If it takes a cumulative 30 minutes to approve the deal (easily achieved), the cost is doubled.
There are other factors. I'm now not trusted to run my own small travel budget. I can't react to a sudden client request for a meeting as approval always takes twice the time you think it will. Therefore the quality of service I provide is reduced accordingly, and I'm a bit grumpy about not being trusted.
The result? Reduced service, reduced morale and double the cost. Well done....
