Exploring constraints in business travel for disabled workers: An ecological systems perspective

Abstract

It is reasonable to expect that travel systems at the workplace would consistently support disabled workers to travel for work in a manner consistent with their needs. Yet, insufficient travel support, systemic bias and discrimination are often the lived experience of disabled workers. To date, research has predominantly focused on leisure travel and disability. Applying an ecological systems theoretical frame, this study investigated how disabled workers in the higher education sector negotiate travel constraints during the organisation and experience of work-related travel. A qualitative research approach was used to understand and improve work-related travel for disabled workers. Findings revealed that disabled workers are regularly forced to negotiate layers of travel constraints related to their personal circumstances and embedded in an interacting environmental system comprising their private life, workplace and broader society. Recommendations are made for a work-travel system that is more inclusive of all workers.

Points of interest

• This article explores how the requirement to travel for work is disabling workers with impairments.

• Data was gathered by guided interviews followed by a workshop with subject matter experts in form of a focus group discussion.

• This research found that while some leading organizations are keen to identify and address disabling barriers related to travel, others in the sector seemed indifferent.

• The study found that disabled workers employ a raft of measures to reduce the impact upon them personally and on their careers.

• The study recommends the immediate uptake of universal design travel principles that are flexible and inclusive of all workers.

Keywords:

• travel constraint negotiation
• disability
• accessible tourism
• business travel
• travel experiences
• ecological systems theory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG) under Grant KA 4976/1-1 and the Australian Research Council (ARC) under Grant FT210100335. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.