Almost half of U.S. business travelers do not have a set emergency policy to follow when traveling abroad, according to a new study released this week at the National Business Travel Association’s convention.
In the event that a war breaks out or escalates, a natural disaster strikes, or a terrorist attack occurs, companies that don’t have procedures in place could have difficulty locating employees and assisting them.
The survey, commissioned by Control Risks, a security consulting firm with U.S. headquarters in Washington, shows that of business travelers surveyed in the mid-Atlantic region, 41 percent said their firm provides them with an emergency contact number, 60 percent thought they could reach a 24-hour support service, and 60 percent also thought they would have confidence in the firm’s advice.
The findings were surprising, said Laura Winthrop, vice president of Control Risk’s International Support & Analysis department.
The study shows that companies are not jumping on the “security bandwagon,” said Cathy Johnson, the firm’s director of marketing for North America.
Some of the most dangerous countries to travel within include Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Nigeria, according to Winthrop. Mid-Atlantic travelers were most concerned with war zones (91 percent), political situations (76 percent), terrorism (87 percent) and health issues (75 percent).
The survey, conducted in May and June, polled 539 people from the U.S. and 501 from the U.K. who travel abroad for business purposes.
Companies “not only have a moral obligation” to care for employees, but also a legal reason, Winthrop said. Companies have to show that they provided enough information and resources to employees — otherwise they could face large lawsuits.
Winthrop said companies should make sure they provide employees with current information about their destination before they travel and a 24-hour emergency contact number either to an internal support network or a third-party security firm. Companies should also be able to track employees with a central system, a problem Johnson said some companies had after the Sept. 11 attacks, and the bombings in Madrid and London.
McLean-based Gannett Co., which sends some of its employees abroad, has safety procedures in place including security, emergency phone numbers, backup locations and specific country information, said Tara Connell, vice president of corporate communications.
