STL and unlimited annual leave?

10 Feb

Written By Sarah H

Why Even the Most Progressive Employers Adopt STL

Many forward-thinking employers are proud of their generous benefits: unlimited leave, flexible working, remote-first policies, and a culture built on trust. These perks attract top talent, boost wellbeing, and signal that people come first.

So when Sustainable Travel Leave is suggested, it’s sometimes met with a shrug.

“We already give people loads of time off. Why do we need another policy?”

The answer is simple: because Sustainable Travel Leave isn’t just about time. It’s about values, behaviour, and impact.

And even the most progressive workplaces have something to gain.

Low-Carbon Travel Can Be Tricky

Unlimited or generous leave sounds ideal. In theory, it gives people freedom to travel slowly and sustainably.

In practice, it often doesn’t.

Sustainable travel - by train, ferry, coach, or bike - often takes longer, requires more planning, and may involve overnight journeys or multiple connections.

Without explicit support, most people won’t feel able to choose it, even if they want to.

By adopting Sustainable Travel Leave, employers are unlocking personalised, 1:1 planning support for any colleague looking to take a flight-free trip, in addition to tonnes of helpful resources and extra benefits that make flight-free travel easier and cheaper - turning “you could” into “we support you to”.

Furthermore, even with unlimited leave, many employees still feel pressure to:

Minimise time away
Return quickly
Stay “available”
Fit holidays around busy workloads

When time is tight, people default to the fastest option: flying.

Unlimited Leave Isn’t Supported Leave

Research and lived experience show that “unlimited leave” often comes with invisible limits.

People worry about:

Looking less committed
Being compared to colleagues
Falling behind
Burdening teammates

So they take less time than they’re entitled to.

Sustainable Travel Leave cuts through this ambiguity. It sends a clear message:

“If you choose lower-carbon travel, we value that choice.”

It removes doubt. It gives permission. It normalises better behaviour.

Acting On Climate Commitments

Many organisations now have:

Net-zero targets
Sustainability strategies
ESG reporting
Climate pledges

These are important. But employees notice when values stay on paper.

Travel is one of the biggest sources of workplace emissions. When adopted for business travel, Sustainable Travel Leave turns climate ambition into everyday action.

It shows staff, customers, and partners that sustainability is built into how the organisation operates - not just what it says.

Make Sustainable Choices Easier

People generally want to do the right thing. But they also want convenience.

Flying is cheap, fast, and socially normalised.

Sustainable travel can be:

Slower
More expensive
Less familiar
More effort

Sustainable Travel Leave rebalances that equation.

It recognises that choosing lower-carbon options often involves a real personal cost, and helps absorb it.

That’s fair. And it works.

Future-Proof Your Organisation

Regulation, reporting standards, and public expectations are moving fast.

What feels “optional” today may be expected tomorrow.

By adopting Sustainable Travel Leave early, employers:

Stay ahead of regulation
Reduce future transition risks
Build internal capability
Avoid rushed, reactive changes later

It’s a low-cost way to prepare for a low-carbon future.

Attract and Retain Values-Driven Talent

More and more workers - especially under the age of 40 - want their job to align with their values.

They care about:

Climate impact
Social responsibility
Authentic leadership

Sustainable Travel Leave (and the associated accreditation) is visible, tangible proof that an employer takes sustainability seriously.

Not just in marketing. In real life - and that matters to employees.

Generosity Plus Purpose Is Powerful

Generous leave and flexible working are fantastic foundations.

But on their own, they don’t guide how people use that freedom.

Sustainable Travel Leave adds purpose to flexibility.

It aligns personal choice with collective responsibility. It turns good intentions into consistent action. It makes sustainability part of everyday working life.

In short: