In today’s ever-changing world, preparing for work-related travel involves much more than booking flights and hotels. The international travel risk landscape is constantly evolving, with growing threats of geopolitical unrest, terrorism, and health and environmental emergencies creating significant risk that can jeopardize employee safety and disrupt business operations.

Organizations have a legal and moral responsibility to protect their employees’ physical and mental health wherever they conduct business. In addition, courts and federal regulators are increasingly assessing whether organizations have taken reasonable measures to protect their employees during work-related travel. Failing to have an effective Duty of Care strategy can leave you vulnerable to:  

• Legal & Regulatory Risk: Liability claims, regulatory fines or sanctions
• Operational Disruptions: Critical business operations or projects delayed
• Reputational Damage: Public opinion of the organization suffers based on a perceived failure to protect employees
• Financial Risk: Medical and security incidents that fall outside the scope of insurance coverage can be costly

The Cost of Being Unprepared

The financial exposure can be especially significant. Not all insurance plans cover emergency healthcare abroad, and travel insurance policies vary widely. Some may not cover the full cost of emergency services or medical evacuation, which can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars without the right coverage.

Insufficient travel risk management also creates confusion for employees during emergencies. An employee who breaks a leg while traveling abroad may not know where to seek care, whether their health coverage applies or how to get treatment when they don’t speak the local language. In these moments, uncertainty adds stress to an already difficult situation.

Employees value feeling protected by their organization. When an incident occurs and an employee feels unsupported, morale can suffer, and people may become less willing to accept future travel assignments.

Given these exposures, a proactive travel risk management strategy is essential. Waiting until an emergency occurs often leads to greater complications down the line.

Preparing for the Unexpected   

Our Special Risk team has developed a comprehensive program for managing the complexities of work-related travel, working with leading travel assistance providers. The program emphasizes preparation and incident response, equipping employees with the resources they need before, during and after travel.

These providers deliver robust medical and security assistance across dozens of countries worldwide, giving employees access to a wide range of resources, including:

• 24/7 access to a global network of medical and security professionals who can help coordinate emergency evacuations and guide employees to the appropriate provider when an incident occurs
• Pre-trip communications with health and security information
• Security alerts based on location
• Digital learning resources to increase security awareness
• Streamlined escalation protocols

A Wraparound Approach

Travel is essential to many organizations, yet the travel risk landscape continues to grow more complex. Organizations have a legal responsibility to protect the health and safety of their workforce during work-related travel. A proactive travel risk management strategy can help minimize that risk while fulfilling your obligations as an employer.

In an emergency, every second matters. Facing a medical or security incident in an unfamiliar environment can make a difficult situation even more stressful. Equipping travelers with the right tools helps them navigate critical situations more effectively and connect with the support they need.

Questions? Connect With Us Today

Our wraparound travel risk management solution offers protection and support at every stage, from securing appropriate insurance coverage to connecting travelers with on-the-ground assistance. To learn more about how this solution can support your organization, connect with our Special Risk team.