4 Ways to Optimize Safety with Business Travel
SAFETY TIPS FOR BUSINESS TRAVEL
A business traveler’s itinerary can get jam-packed fast. There are client meetings. Working lunches. Training sessions. Woof.
In all of the hullabaloo, business travel safety oftens falls by the wayside. It’s critical to have safety protocols in place to ensure employees can get where they need to be efficiently—and reliably.
Keeping your employees safe
Here are four tips to make sure your travelers’ safety is always prioritized:
Prepare before takeoff
Before you send employees on their next business travel trip, encourage them to share their itinerary with an emergency contact. Business travelers can also take photos of travel documents and store them in an online backup service, or share them with their emergency contact. Likewise, recommend that your team members keep an eye on the news and weather forecast for their destination. This will keep them informed of any adverse conditions that may affect your trip or put you at risk.
Keep security top-of-mind
There are a few simple steps travel managers can take to ease business travel stress. First, encourage employees to locate the police station and hospital closest to their hotel and meeting locations. Make sure they are informed on how to contact emergency services, if needed. Additionally, employees can bring a portable door lock to the hotel for added business travel safety. Even if they feel safe without the added security, recommend using the door’s deadbolt and peephole.
Factor in the “New Normal”
Travel managers are currently challenged—big time—by operating within the ever-changing restrictions of the pandemic. COVID-19 conditions, vaccination rates, and [rules] vary across countries and cities, so travel managers must keep tabs on developing mandates. At the same time, employees should be aware of the latest CDC guidelines. Current recommendations include being fully vaccinated before travel and wearing a mask while in public places.
Consider how they’re getting around
Instead of depending on public transportation, employees can easily get to where they need to go with on-demand rides. Lyft offers Health Safety Standards to ensure community protection while on the road. In addition to being a reliable solution for business travelers, rideshare provided by your company can eliminate many common road bumps like expense management and policy compliance.
These are just a few tips to get you started. A well-constructed safety plan, that has been tested and socialized, will go a long way to ensuring you’re doing all you can to reasonably keep employees safe while on the road.