Corporate Travel Risks Facing North American Businesses in 2023

Corporate travel in 2023 is expected to be as busy as ever, and employers should now be considering how they plan to provide a safe workplace for their staff, even during business travel. Duty of care obligations remain for North American employers sending their employees to trade shows and business and client meetings outside their traditional office space. Successful duty of care takes into account every risk facing a traveling workforce, including the potential for natural disasters, hospitalization, and even political demonstrations.

Assess and manage risks in their many forms alongside AFIMAC this business travel season. As duty of care continues to evolve, employers must adjust their efforts to ensure their staff can work and travel without complication. 360-degree risk assessments help companies plan for and mitigate risks of serious injury, extensive travel delays, and liability issues that can harm your company’s reputation.

Corporate Travel Duty of Care: Intelligence Gathering

Many employers overlook the importance of information before sending their workforce out on assignment. When the specialists at AFIMAC gather intelligence regarding a destination, important details are revealed that could prevent complications well before they arise. Many employers may be proven to have been negligent in their duty of care obligations if they unknowingly send their staff to destinations that are unfriendly to women or to locations that are known for political demonstrations.

Information is key when planning and preparing for unpredictable corporate travel risks. Risk intelligence gathering helps employers protect their human resources and ensure all staff are focused on the reason for their trip. 

Corporate Travel Duty of Care: The Top Risks Every Employer Should Be Planning For

North American employers can make preemptive efforts in order to fulfill their duty of care obligations. Know the risks of corporate travel and plan for them appropriately.

• Travel delays are expected to be rampant this business travel season, and depending on the nature, they could turn into complex risks for your staff. When executives are left stranded at busy airports, train stations, or in rural parts of the world, they could be left vulnerable to picket pocketing, kidnapping attempts, or assault. If an employer fails to address travel delay risks, they could be held liable for injuries or other complications during an employee’s trip.
• Political demonstrations and civil commotion are especially unpredictable in 2023. Employers who send their staff to places like Brazil, Mexico, or South America could see them getting caught up in a flash protest. It can be next to impossible for an employer to predict such occurrences. The duty of care specialists at AFIMAC can plan for, anticipate, and address the risk of protests impacting your staff.
• Poorly equipped medical facilities can be especially problematic if a staff member is injured or becomes sick during corporate travel. When this occurs, employers will have to facilitate the safe return home of their employees and ensure they have access to proper care upon returning home.
• Inclement weather can cause extensive travel delays and put your staff in danger should a hurricane or flood occur during business travel. If an employer has failed to properly address such risks, they could face extensive liability and reputational complications. Many corporations will need to take steps to monitor the potential of dangerous weather impacting their workforce, with access to information and emergency hotlines that can inform staff and direct them to safety.
• Local laws and customs vary greatly depending on the destination, and some staff may clash with police and community members for their religious beliefs or sexual orientations. Even a simple display of affection could result in an unpleasant interaction with a local or, at times, result in arrest. Most commonly, employers who are unaware if their staff members are part of the LGBTQ+ community could result in serious risk if they send them on assignment to a destination that is unfriendly to such orientations.
• Kidnap, assault, and robbery are very real risks for corporate executives who are sent to inspect job sites in destinations like Mexico or South America. North American corporate leaders stand out from the public, making them a target for crimes of all kinds. These risks are best addressed with intelligence-gathering tools, along with protective drivers that ensure the safe movements of staff when there is a danger of kidnapping for ransom.

Corporate Travel Duty of Care Offerings from AFIMAC

Tap into the intelligence-gathering tools to fulfill your duty of care obligations to provide a safe workplace during corporate travel. Risk assessments and intelligence gathering conducted by AFIMAC help corporate entities predict and manage risk well before it causes any serious harm. Identify the risks facing your workforce and utilize AFIMAC’s global resources that can ensure safe travel and fulfill your moral and legal obligations to provide a safe workplace.

AFIMAC’s duty of care specialists helps employers protect human resources and address risk as it happens. Further, consider leaning on AFIMAC to provide highly trained protective drivers to ensure the safety of your workforce.

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