New data reveals 27% of the nation will call in sick post Easter travel

With the Easter break just days away, travellers across the country are set to make last-minute travel plans to avoid the predicted bank holiday wash-out-weather. It comes as independent research released today by YOTEL, the global hospitality group for those on the go, has shown that a third of us (32%) are put off by long haul travel because of the fear of jet lag.

Almost a third of respondents (37%) admitted to finding jet lag challenging with exhaustion (25%), headaches (21%), trouble concentrating (15%) and nausea (10%) being cited as some of the top things Brits experience when suffering from jet lag.

We are a nation however that suffers from FOMO, with 44% of us saying that the fear of missing out is too much, and they’d fight the jet lag to make sure they don’t miss out on travel experiences, facing the consequences after.

With Londoners stating:
42% of respondents said they find coping with jet lag a challenge[1] [AG1]
27% of respondents said they would be likely[2] to avoid travelling due to jet lag
When asked, what is the worst thing you have ever had to do whilst suffering from jet lag, 6% said went on a date
With 46% of respondents who have experienced jet lag when travelling [AG2] saying that the fear of missing out is too much, and they’d fight the jet lag to make sure they don’t miss out on travel experiences[3]

The research goes on to reveal that 27% of Brits who work have admitted to calling in sick because of jet lag after long-haul travel, with those living in London and Leeds being the worst culprits. Findings also showed that 36% of men compared to 27% of women are more likely to call in sick, and over half (52%) of respondents believe that their colleagues are not sympathetic to the impact of jet lag on their performance at work.

When asked, wearing sunglasses indoors (7%), playing loud music (12%) and wearing compression socks (18%) were cited as some of the top things to do to help relieve the pressures of travel exhaustion.

“At YOTEL we enable our guests to stay non-stop and get centered quickly in some of the biggest gateway cities in the world. Having witnessed how disruptive jet lag can be as part of this journey, we set out to take actions and forge new partnerships to best equip guests to stay on-the-go while they travel,” says Olivia Donnan, Vice President Brand at YOTEL. “In partnership with like-minded innovative brands, Fount and Urban Jungle, we’re continuing to challenge the status quo and pushing boundaries to stop jet lag from disrupting our guests’ travels.”

The research has also shown more than a third (34%) of Brits claim that a comfy bed is the most important thing to them to avoid jet lag. To support a good night sleep, YOTEL have unveiled their new, exclusive partnership with Urban Jungle who have specially created Skin Recovery Kits, with products supporting skin renewal after a lack of sleep caused on long flights. Guests can also purchase FlyKitt Rescue by Fount at a selection of YOTEL and YOTELAIR destinations including Miami, New York and Singapore, which is a supplement programme designed to help travellers recover from jet lag. To support regulating sleep cycles,YOTEL also loans Lumie Lights to guests and provides tailored temperature controls in rooms.

1 in 12 respondents claim that eating specific feel-good foods is their go-to strategy to avoid the dreaded jet lag. To support Brits with the perils of jet lag, YOTEL has launched a jet lag menu with snacks and smoothies such as chilli and chocolate cookies. The menu features melatonin rich foods including baby kale, goji berries, bananas and an array of immune-boosting seeds.