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If and when it is appropriate for your family to tag along on business Business travel is lonely. Night after night away from home, missing family and friends, and friends and family missing you. Many business travelers are partaking in the new trends of bleisure, taking a mini-vacation before or after a business trip.

If this new trend has you wondering how you bring your family on a business trip, you are not alone. A Bridgestreet Hospitality survey found 55% of bleisure travelers bring family members with them. Further, 29% said they haven’t yet, but would like to or are planning to.

We interviewed Phil Shawe, Co-CEO of TransPerfect, to learn more about bringing the family on a business trip.

As a CEO, when do you deem it appropriate for an employee to bring a family/friend along on a business trip?

It is extremely important not to take advantage of the rules, especially when it comes to business trips. If it’s your first time bringing a family member or friend along, the overarching rule is to check with your supervisor first. If it’s a trip that you have done many times, and your boss can trust you, then it may be allowed. It is definitely more appropriate to ask a question like this after you have been on a few trips with the company.

How can employees balance time on business trips between work and family, and still impress the CEO?

A lot of times, finding a balance on trips and making it work can demonstrate to your CEO that not only are you someone who values family but that you don’t have to put your work on hold to make sure that time is spent between everyone. You have devised a plan of action that allows you to work hard, face clients and spend some quality time with loved ones – a trait that most CEOs love to see.

What advice do you have for someone who wants to ask their CEO to bring an additional person?

If you check with your CEO and he isn’t able to accommodate an additional person, your best bet is to accept his answer and let your work speak for itself. If you are constantly traveling, doing an excellent job and making sure that you are always readily available, it may be okay to revisit the question in the future.

How can an employee ensure their CEO that the job will get done even better with friends/family around?

If you are a frequent business traveler, the lack of being around for family/friends is almost always an issue. Without the stress of missing out on family events and other milestones, you can ensure that your mind is focused on the work in front of you.