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.
Before authorizing a trip, companies are expected to research and evaluate the risk level by
conducting a risk assessment for business travel
and to educate employees on the safety procedures to follow. They’re also legally required to have a fall-back plan should risk become reality.
Corporate liability extends to omissions as well as negligence. Travellers should know the recommended vaccines before travelling, 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 behaviour and mannerisms as guests in that country.
Training and briefings encourage employees to comply with the travel risk assessment policy for their safety and those around them. Your responsibility doesn’t end at identifying risk and sending employees a pdf about what to do if things go south, you must also make sure that your travellers are practically involved.
When your employees understand that compliance is mandatory, they will respect the policy–and you–for making their wellbeing mandatory.
Companies who ignore duty of care are ultimately putting themselves at risk. Even the most diligent companies often still struggle to withstand the ever-changing threats accompanying travel today.
This is largely due to a lack of resources or information available on how to write a comprehensive duty of care policy with regards to travel or how to conduct a thorough travel risk assessment. An even more common oversight is that many companies don’t know the difference between the two.