In a world that is growing increasingly unstable due to terrorism and civil unrest, many people don’t feel as confident about traveling as they once did.
But there are some key actions employers can take to help their road warriors feel more at ease while they’re out there.
Let’s look at 5 ways to keep employees safe while traveling.
Everyone’s afraid of things they don’t understand or know about. That’s why providing your traveling employees with information about the destination and conditions is the best travel policy practice.
A fact sheet, providing key information like what to expect from the climate, the city, and even the neighborhood your traveling employee is headed for, reduces the mystery and ups the interest. Include a list of local services, restaurants, and public transit.
Tailor the information you provide to your individual travelers. Some may have medical conditions or require medication. Ensure that you include information about medical services and pharmacies for these travelers.
Being aware of factors like this will help you meet your duty of care for the specific employee traveling.
If your business doesn’t have travel insurance coverage, it’s time to get that sorted.
If you already have this in place, then it’s incumbent on you to communicate information about this insurance to travelers before they embark on their trip.
Are there health requirements your traveler needs to know about before taking off? Do they need inoculations? Should they not be drinking tap water? Is it OK to eat street food?
You’re the employer, so it’s your job to make your traveling employees aware of these factors before they go.
Nobody really wants to think about it, but responsible employers do.
If your employees are traveling to a destination in the throes of change, including intermittent civil unrest, then having an emergency plan in place which includes communication and evacuation is a best practice.
Being equipped with secure, reliable communication in this instance is key to an emergency plan being effective, so ensure that’s the case.
PRO-TIP: When your road warriors are entering “hot zones” or visiting destinations with a reputation for unrest, then enrolling with the US Embassy should be a matter of protocol. This ensures that the person is accounted for should instability arise.
Are you concerned about existing protocols at your company for keeping your employees safe while traveling? Let ITG take the reins and develop your corporate travel policy to encompass traveler safety.
With over 20 years in the business, we bring you wide-ranging experience in incentive travel programming, rewards, meeting and conference planning and so much more. We’re the experts who raise the bar, making your travel program the one to replicate.
Ready for an outsourced solution to all your corporate travel needs? Then, you’re ready for the pros at ITG. Contact us to discuss these 5 ways to keep employees safe while traveling. Discover excellence with the team at ITG.