An Unpredictable World: How Business Leaders Can Keep Staff Safe While Traveling Overseas

In today’s world, we are constantly reminded of the impacts of extreme weather events and political unrest on people’s daily lives. As business leaders, it’s crucial to implement measures that protect our employees from these uncontrollable risks, particularly when they are traveling for work. Regardless of the size or global reach of your organization, it’s essential to provide the necessary support to those responsible for ensuring employee safety by helping them identify, plan for, and mitigate these risks.

Duty of care has evolved. The increase in globalization and business travel necessitates a thorough understanding of safety risks worldwide. Conversely, some risks that could once be avoided by keeping staff local, such as flooding and extreme heat, are now prevalent due to climate change.

So, how can we safeguard our teams and ensure their safety both abroad and at home?

Monitor Global Risks

Business leaders and those in charge of staff safety must develop a comprehensive understanding of the cultural nuances and potential risks in the regions their employees visit.

Each region presents unique challenges, from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to macroeconomic risks in Europe CIS, political unrest in the Americas, food insecurity in the Asia Pacific, and militant groups in Africa. This complexity underscores that there is no universal solution to risk management.

A crucial step is to continuously monitor the environments where employees are traveling or working. External analysts and suppliers can provide valuable information if this task exceeds the capabilities of an in-house team. Technological advancements like AI are also worth considering but should be used in conjunction with other methods.

Consider Individual Circumstances

Recognizing that various factors can affect an individual’s safety risk while traveling is vital. These risks are not only location-based but also specific to the individual. Before sending someone abroad, consider factors such as gender-related risks, travel experience, and language proficiency. Appropriate training might be necessary to better prepare them for the trip.

Gathering sensitive personal information is challenging and depends on the trust employees have in the organization to protect their data. Transparency about how their information will be used and securely stored is essential.

Supporting risk management teams with protective services in the countries employees visit and creating individualized security plans tailored to both the environment and personal information can help ensure employees feel safer during their travels.

Prepare for the Unexpected

In the event of a disaster in a location where you have staff, having an evacuation and emergency response plan is critical. To maximize the chances of safely extracting employees, consider the necessary equipment, local infrastructure, defining “triggers” for escalation, routes and ports of departure, and potential operational issues in advance.

In summary, ensuring staff safety is becoming increasingly complex, regardless of sector or location. Sudden and unexpected threats require real-time navigation. However, by proactively mitigating risks, we can protect our people and assets as much as possible, no matter where they are in the world.

If you’d like to learn more, or would like to talk to one of our experts, contact us at enquiries@priavosecurity.com.