How travel risk management is different from duty of care

Last Updated on: March 7, 2023 at 9:24 am

Companies plan their business trips and travel risk management in different ways. They use travel policies they are comfortable with, and they also use a lot of tools to plan their corporate travels. Amidst all the differences in planning a corporate trip, there is a common ground for all these companies: the safety of their employees during the journey. There is a need to worry about that because travelling is a risk and not the safest thing one can do. It involves many risks compared to sitting in the office all day and returning home.

When planning corporate travel, you must consider environmental and health risks such as:

• High altitude
• Heat and humidity
• Road traffic accident
• Food and water-borne diseases
• Recreational waters
• Animals and insects

Particularly for business travels, the following are issues that you can encounter:

• Flight delays or cancellations
• Changing travel restrictions and entry requirements
• Missing a flight
• Falling sick in a different country
• Accidents or emergencies
• Incomplete travel documents

So far in 2022, the reports of travel risks have been centred around safety, security, and sustainability. Covid-19 is topping the 3 lists as one of the considerations of travel risks in 2022, but it isn’t the principal duty of care for travel managers. But above all other dangers reported so far in 2022, climate change is daring and has the most significant influence.

With all these travel risks, we see why companies are bothered and responsible for the safety of their employees while planning a corporate trip. 13th 1 brings us to the need for a duty of care and travel risk management while planning a corporate trip. Many people are confused with these two terms and often use them interchangeably. Although they are used in the same context, they mean different things. In this article, we will clear the confusion between the two terms.

Duty of care

Every business owes its workers a responsibility of care. A firm has a moral and legal duty to safeguard its employees against danger. Companies should take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of all their employees, including those on business trips.

Duty of care refers to a company’s responsibility to treat its customers and employees with a certain level of care. The right processes and travel rules must be in place and understood when people are travelling on behalf of a firm to protect their safety. Businesses must follow laws governing occupational health and safety in each country. the following general aspects of a company’s duty of care:

• Workplace mishaps and injuries
• Fire safety
• Emotional health
• Safety and health
• Instruction and oversight
• Compensation

Organizations can protect employees in various ways, with the duty of care serving as a catch-all for various people risk management strategies. A strong duty of care strategy will aid businesses in avoiding expensive legal problems and unanticipated staff emergencies.

However, workers must know they are safe and cared for, regardless of cost or legality. It provides employees with comfort throughout lengthy transit times and other challenging aspects of travel. 

Travel Risk Management

Corporate travel risk management is primarily concerned with assisting organisations in going above and beyond the primary duty of care to provide critical assistance to business travellers. Travel risk management requires businesses to anticipate, assess, and implement appropriate measures to manage the potential impact of events, develop mitigation strategies, and communicate projected risk exposures to their employees. As a result, it is critical to advise and provide comprehensive medical, emergency response, security, and data security protection to travelling personnel.

It is critical to demonstrate support for employees who travel on behalf of the company. Travellers may encounter novel circumstances and locations, each with its risks, whether on an international or domestic business trip. 

Road accidents, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, conflict, crime, terrorism, political and social instability, and unrest are all risks. All of this can jeopardize travellers’ safety, security, health (both physical and mental health), and the outcome of their business trip. A good travel safety course will cover all potential travel hazards, how to avoid them, and what to do if they occur.

How TruTrip Can Help

Your company’s travel policy is the best place to define your duty of care and explain how you will take care of them. Finally, enforcing your travel policy and communicating the duty of care to employees should be as simple as possible.

Here’s how a business travel management tool can help you with duty of care compliance.

• Flexible travel arrangements are available in the event of unexpected travel cancellations for any reason.
• If something goes wrong with your business travellers, you can count on 24-hour support.
• Current travel restrictions and alerts can be found in travel advisories.
• Continuous tracking of traveller location and risk intelligence

At Trutrip, your employee’s health information is monitored and is also used in determining and planning a proper business trip. We also have already made a form designed to get the required information to equip you for corporate business travels.

Using the right business travel management technology makes travel more seamless, intuitive, and adaptable. Employees can be kept engaged by having information at any time and a clear flow of communication.

Ease your business travellers’ worries

Employees can add more value while on business travel if they know, they will be well-cared for. Do you want to know more about how business travel management can improve your company’s duty of care? Schedule a demo, and we’ll show you around, or sign up for free trial.