Aviaphobia and Its Impact On Work

Here's a story I can relate to, me not being of the fearless flyers.

According to this story in HR.BLR.com (citing a USA Today.com story), the fear of flying or aviaphobia is a serious workplace problem. 

Up to 13% of employees have a significant enough fear of flying that their employers may have to assign them to different offices or different types of jobs so they do have to fly as much. Even more, employees may do their careers real damages when they miss out-of-town meeting or refuse promotions so they do not have to fly.   

As a result, according to a survey of employers by the American Management Association, "aviaphobia impede[s] the development of talent and force[s] [employers] to reassign employees with solid sales or marketing skills to jobs that don't involve air travel."

The good news here is that overcoming the fear of flying is something that employees are very much capable of doing:

Psychologists say that most people who are afraid to fly can be treated to overcome their fears and there are a number of companies and therapists available to treat the problem. (One such company mentioned in the [USA Today] article is Soar (www.fearoflying.com)). Success rates for those who receive help, the article notes, are above 90 percent.

PS