In the global economy, even small businesses tend to have employees who travel a fair amount. While business travel can be advantageous, it can also pose risks.
Business owners and corporate leaders need to be proactive when it comes to protecting employees, especially when they’re traveling abroad.
Unfortunately, many employers send their employees abroad with little or no thought to what could happen, from security threats to natural disasters.
According to the Society for Human Resources Management, by neglecting employee travel safety, businesses are putting themselves at risk of legal liability.
The following are some tips to improve the safety of employee travel.
Transportation and Lodging Guidelines
If you’re a business that lets employees make their own travel plans, you want to make sure that you at least have some guidelines in place.
More employees are opting for rideshare options like Uber and Lyft, as well as Airbnb for transportation and lodging. This can be beneficial because it saves money, and thanks to things like Uber vehicle inspections and protections within the app, it can be safer than other options.
At the same time, make sure you create specific guidelines, such as neighborhood restrictions where Airbnb’s can be rented.
Do A Risk Assessment
Before you can look at training employees or putting in place new policies, it’s important to do a risk assessment for locations where employees will be traveling.
Risks are different depending on the area of the world.
For example, in China, the biggest risk may be cybercrime, while in other areas of the world it could be terrorism or natural disasters.
When you’re doing a risk assessment, it’s also a good time to talk to your employees. Learn what their concerns are and where they feel they need resources or support.
Train Employees
Beginning with onboarding and going through an employee’s time at the company, training is important.
Train employees on how to stay in contact when traveling, and what to do if they’re in a dangerous or emergency situation.
Along with training on topics related to personal safety, it’s also important to think about safeguarding business information.
Business travelers from the U.S. can be a big target when it comes to information and data theft when they’re traveling abroad.
As well as training employees on how to handle general situations, it’s also best to research destinations where they’ll be going, and provide them on relevant training with regard to these areas.
Create a Check-In Policy
Every business, regardless of size, should have a specifically outlined check-in policy for employees who are traveling.
Employees should know when and how to check-in with their home office or employer.
Finally, it’s also a good idea to consider having employees enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program or STEP. This is a free service from the U.S. State Department. U.S. citizens can enroll with the closest U.S. embassy or consulate where they’ll be traveling.
Then, they will receive the latest information related to safety and security. The U.S. Embassy is also involved in providing information if an emergency occurs.
