Now that travel borders have re-opened, employees have resumed travelling abroad for business employers should re-visit their travel policies to ensure they reflect current conditions.
All employers have a duty of care and a legal requirement to ensure that employees are properly prepared for travel and to support them during and after their trips.
Some of the risks faced by employees include:
- Terrorism
- Riots
- Road traffic accidents
- Street crime
- Kidnap
- Illness
- Flight delays and cancellations
As part of their duty of care to employees, employers must demonstrate that they are aware of these risks and that appropriate risk mitigation strategies are in place.
Some of these strategies may include:
- Company travel policy – The company travel policy should ensure the highest possible degree of safety and security for employees when travelling overseas, as well as ensuring that all business-related travel to risk-rated countries is subject to a formal risk assessment.
- Prior to travel – A risk assessment should identify where training or support is required for employees.
- Incident response – It is vital that the company travel policy outlines what employees should do in the event of an incident. This should include contact details for the provider nominated on the company travel insurance programme.
- Ensure the travel policy is updated and that they have evidence to prove employees have read, understood and agreed to the policy.
Whilst it is vital to ensure the safety of employees, businesses could also be well advised to obtain group personal accident and business travel insurance.
Cover can usually be arranged on a single policy, and can include the following benefits;
PERSONAL ACCIDENT:
Accidental bodily injury, rehabilitation support, terrorism, loss of sight/hearing/ speech, dental/optical emergency expenses, hi-jack/kidnap, hospitalisation benefit, medical expenses etc.
BUSINESS TRAVEL:
Legal expenses, overseas medical expenses (including additional travel expenses), personal property and electronic business equipment, loss of money, cancellation expenses, political/disaster evacuation, personal liability, personal security assistance, repatriation.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
Employees travelling for business can be essential for business growth. By talking to your insurance broker they can help you meet your duty of care requirements, and make sure that you and your employees are protected wherever they may be.
For more information please get in touch.