Travel Risk Management

Duty of care for business travel

If your employees are traveling for business, it’s your legal and ethical responsibility to have a plan in place to care for them. A thorough plan evaluates foreseeable and unforeseeable risks to avoid injury to employees and legal ramifications for the company. This plan is known as the duty of care. 

Legal obligations

Organizations worldwide are increasingly being held accountable by their governments and employees to conduct business prudently by addressing the many risks in business travel. Increasingly, employees are being informed of their rights and will file against their employers if they feel the security-related incident was not handled appropriately. 

For these reasons, providing proper duty of care is becoming a higher priority for companies. Having documented proof that the company provides safety procedures, sufficient resources, and correct training is the best safeguard they have against potential future litigation.

Strategic planning and practical prevention

Prevention, response, and strategy are key aspects of every employer’s obligation to uphold the law and safeguard their team. Corporate liability extends to omissions as well as negligence. Travelers should know the recommended vaccines before travel, how and where to access medical treatment, and evacuation contingencies. It’s also recommended that they be briefed on cultural and political norms before going to new destinations. This helps inform their behavior and mannerisms as guests in that country