Keeping Your Employees Safe While Traveling

An employee's safety when traveling on company business is as much of a priority for an employer as their safety at work. Here are some precautions employees can take to ensure their safety on a business trip.

Pre–trip Preparations

• Know your support team (company, travel agency) and have their emergency contact numbers

• Share itinerary and contact information with family and co–workers and check in daily

• Pack a cellphone charger and back–up battery

Cybersecurity Measures

• Update your mobile operating systems and apps

• Backup laptop and cellphone information on another device

• Disable remote connectivity and Bluetooth

• Connect to private virtual networks (VPN), which masks your IP address, when using public WiFi

• Never leave your electronic devices unattended

• Ensure your mobile hotspot is password–protected

• Always log out before shutting off devices

Hotel and Transportation Safety

• Review local transportation options (taxi, rideshare, public transportation)

• Don’t draw attention to yourself with expensive clothing, jewelry, or electronic devices

• Be aware of your surroundings — don’t get distracted on the phone while walking, use valet parking, or park close to an entrance door if driving

• Use luggage locks and keep bags close to you in public areas such as airports and train stations

• Separate your cash and credit cards — keep some money and one credit card with you; have emergency cash and credit card in a carry–on bag

International Travel

• Secure passport, airline tickets, and other valuable documents in a hotel safe

• Have a local SIM card to ensure data access and navigate destinations

• Check for U.S. State Department travel advisories (Travel Advisories (state.gov)) and have U.S. embassy contact information for the country to which you are traveling

• Ask your doctor if any vaccinations are required for your destination

• Know location of nearby medical centers or hospitals in the event of a medical emergency

References

“A Complete Guide to Managing Employee Travel,” U.S. Chamber of Commerce, https://www.uschamber.com/co/start/strategy/managing-employee-travel

“An Unpredictable World: How Business Leaders Can Keep Staff Safe While Traveling Overseas,” Forbes (April 5, 2024), https://forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/04/05/an-unpredictable-world-how-business-leaders-can-keep-staff-safe-while-traveling-overseas