Working Mothers Use Business Trips to Relax
A new study has been released that says working mothers use business trips to relax. Can I get a surprised reaction? Anyone? Anyone?
According to an article in the Globe and Mail about the study, working mothers may account for putting the fun back into business trips:
- While there are no statistics that track what working moms do during their free time on business trips, a recent study on the activities of male and female business travellers found that more women than men spend their non-working hours doing personal, leisurely activities.
- For instance, 33 per cent of women went shopping during business trips, versus 17 per cent of men, according to the study. More than 17 per cent of female business travellers also visited friends and about 13 per cent went sightseeing. By comparison, close to 11 per cent of men visited friends, and about 9 per cent went sightseeing.
- “The general statistics over all suggest that women travelling on business are more likely than men to take the opportunity to participate in activities outside the work environment,” says Wilfrid Laurier University professor Barbara Carmichael, co-author of the study, which appears in the Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing.
I am sure that if I were to get a night alone in a hotel room, I would put sleep at the top of my own leisure activities list. What about you?
Tags: business-trips, working-mother-perks, working-mothers-and-business-tripsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Finances, Mental Health
6 opinions for Working Mothers Use Business Trips to Relax
Laura
Jul 9, 2007 at 6:45 am
I can’t give you the surprised reaction because I’ve been there, done that. I’ve been an eight-to-five working mommy, a SAHM, and now a work at home momma.
When I was working in the corporate world I remember looking at the occasional business trip (especially if it was a training trip which usually leaves your evenings free) as a kind of a relaxing getaway.
You have so little privacy when your kids are small. I remember that they even used to follow me to the bathroom! Sometimes going away for a few days and not having anybody follow you can seem like a treat.
That being said, I didn’t a lot–no more than once or twice a year.
Hopefully, this isn’t too shocking.
kbaggott
Jul 9, 2007 at 8:49 am
Laura- I dream of being sent on business trips again. I hope that one day I will return to the world of anonymous business hotels with crisp sheets and mediocre artwork. I hope that one day I will pre-set a wake-up call again. The wake up wail, while nice enough I suppose, always seems to come about an hour earlier than I really need it to be.
ratphooey
Jul 9, 2007 at 9:58 am
Another one from the Duh! files.
Sometimes I dream of checking into a hotel in my own city, alone. Just to sleep.
kbaggott
Jul 9, 2007 at 10:42 am
Ratphooey- Yeah, I went into Valley-Girl Speak when I read it.
Let’s go together! I’ll see you in the spa?
Selfmademom
Jul 10, 2007 at 7:41 am
I’ve blogged about this before and I think business trips are overrated! I usually end up staying at a second-rate hotel and never have time to see anything. Bah humbug.
Kate
Jul 10, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Selfmade- So, you don’t get to sleep through the night when you’re away? I’m not sure I can handle the truth.
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