Hot Job Market Gives Employees Leverage to Negotiate Travel Benefits

Thanks to a low unemployment rate and a rise in competition for good talent, potential job candidates are finding themselves with the leverage they need to negotiate for extra travel benefits, including premium-cabin travel and the right to select itineraries that aren't entirely based on the lowest price.

According to an article in The New York Times, more US companies are providing additional travel perks to lure employees to open jobs. Human resource departments are reporting an uptick in the number of companies offering first- and business-class tickets for business travel, both on domestic and international itineraries. Recruiters also say it's more common for potential employees to ask about travel-related benefits. In some cases, companies are even making a similar calculation for their existing workforce, reasoning that paying a little more to make travel less onerous for staff members is significantly cheaper relative to the costs of having to replace a quality employee.

Airlines and hotels are already well aware of the importance of catering to the needs of business travelers. A recent study tracked the trend in improving hotel fitness options to an increase in millennial business travelers who want to work out on the road, while airlines sometimes offer promotions that are specifically tailored to corporate travelers.

Corporate travel bookings have long had a somewhat adversarial quality to them, with business travelers pushing for the fastest and most comfortable options while corporate travel departments aim to spend the least amount of money on flights and accommodations. Stories of business travelers being forced onto multi-stop itineraries or to out of the way connections are not unusual when the job market is soft and other employment options are scarce. But it appears that for the moment, employees may have gained the upper hand — at least until the next recession hits.

H/T: The New York Times