Business travel is a great way to boost productivity, close deals and experience new places. However, it can also be dangerous.
Corporate travel safety policies help employees make informed decisions while on business trips. They protect them from a variety of hazards including severe weather, natural disasters, political instability and even petty crimes like pickpocketing.
Duty of Care
Duty of care is a company’s legal and moral obligation to ensure that its employees are protected and safe while traveling on behalf of the company. This applies to business travel, commuting and other work-related activities.
When a company fails to provide duty of care, it can land the organization in some serious trouble. It can also affect employee loyalty and overall productivity.
A good duty of care program aims to provide safety and security while still promoting and supporting traveler well-being. This will benefit the company in a number of ways, including improving retention rates and employee satisfaction levels.
The responsibility to provide duty of care in corporate travel is a complex one. It is often confused with the term “travel risk management” but it has distinct meanings.
Preparation
While business travel can be an exciting opportunity to network, learn and close deals, it should also be a safe experience for employees. That’s why creating and implementing a corporate travel safety policy is important.
Creating and monitoring this policy should be a shared responsibility between key stakeholders, including those who oversee travel risk management. This ensures that everyone involved is on the same page and can react quickly in the event of a situation.
In addition, ensuring that all employees receive training is essential. This training will help them to spot hazards and stay safe during travel.
Aside from traditional risks like severe weather, natural disasters or political instability, travelers can also face violence, terrorism or other petty crimes. Using crisis simulation exercises and other training methods can help employees to respond safely in these scenarios.
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is a systematic process that evaluates the likelihood of a specific event happening. It can help businesses meet their duty of care obligations and protect staff during business travel.
A thorough travel risk assessment should include a rundown of risks to both the individual traveler and the company, an evaluation of the likelihood of each risk and mitigation measures for a range of scenarios. This should be communicated to the traveler/s, your in-office team and any other stakeholders.
The most important part of any travel risk assessment is determining the probability and severity of the risks. This judgment will inform the prevention and mitigation strategies that will be used to safeguard against and control those risks.
A good risk assessment should take into account the different aspects of the journey, including the destination, travel route, travel methods, and travel itinerary. It should also consider the traveler profile, and whether there are any underlying risk factors that will impact on that particular journey.
Communication
Business travelers need to know that they can contact their company in the event of an emergency. This will ensure they can travel safely and feel supported, so that they are able to return home to their loved ones.
One way to communicate this message is to have a 24-hour emergency hotline for traveler support and guidance. This way, the person on the line can help them through any problem they may have – no matter how small or insignificant it seems to be.
Another communication strategy is to regularly update your corporate travel safety policy. It should be a document that outlines procedures, resources and training to keep safety top of mind for your traveling staff.
It’s important to remember that your duty of care policy is not a static document – it should be reviewed frequently and updated to reflect the changing threat landscape. This will allow you to stay up to date with the latest threats and provide the best coverage possible for your traveling employees.