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Business travellers ‘unprepared’ for foreign trips
Nine out of ten business travellers receive no advice or training when they travel abroad with a quarter of companies even failing to properly insure their staff, a survey has claimed.
According to training firm Planet Wise, 90% of companies do nothing to prepare employees for overseas travel, leaving them unaware of how to behave in certain cultures or what to do in an emergency.
The survey said 25% of all UK travellers are inadequately insured despite claiming more than half fall sick on foreign jaunts.
“Many organisations think their responsibility stops at buying airline tickets and booking a hotel room when, in fact, all employers have a duty to care for their staff when they are away on business,” said Planet Wise director Mark Hide.
“Companies need to start thinking about supplying travellers with information such as destination risk assessment and advice on culture, first aid and good hygiene and well as inoculations and insurance.”
He added a hostage and kidnap policy was advisable for potentially dangerous locations.
Planet Wise has now teamed up with the Business Travel Show to produce a check-list for travellers.
BTS even director David Chapple said: “Feedback has shown that employees perform better while abroad if they have been adequately briefed, understand the risks and feel culturally aware.
“Many travellers are still naïve and vulnerable.”
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