How can having a plan in place benefit you should your employees run into unforeseen circumstances overseas?
Companies with a plan in place will clearly be in a better position to support their travelers through any crisis situation. Having a plan makes travelers feel more secure in that, should something happen, they know they’ve got support and they know where to turn for it. For travelers, knowing they are not alone can go a long way toward relieving the stress in a crisis, and with 24-7 service available, employees have access to information when they need it.
Having a plan also allows employers to respond more quickly, because they are acting according to the plan, not reacting to the situation.
Companies that do not have policies may find themselves at a loss regarding whether a traveler was on a particular flight or in a certain location when a crisis occurs. They may also be left scrambling if an employee is injured and doesn’t know where to turn, or if the employee is stranded without necessary medication. By working with an agency, a company gets a partner that has seen it all and can provide solutions and options that an employer might not be aware of.
How can companies communicate travel information to employees?
Consider having a travel portal, which can keep travelers updated on important information while an event is happening. A portal can house not only alerts and emergency procedures but also insurance information on what to do if the employee becomes sick or injured in a foreign country and what to do if a passport or credit cards are lost or stolen. Having these step-by-step procedures at their fingertips can be critical because, during a crisis, travelers need things to be simple and easy to follow.
By setting up a portal, your employees will come to rely on one location for important travel information, resulting in gains in improvements to policy compliance and cost savings.
You can also make the portal interactive, allowing employees to offer input on where they see gaps in your corporate travel program, creating the opportunity for you to improve it.
By providing employees with accurate information and a place to turn, you are also providing them with a sense of being safe and protected, knowing that someone is there to help them. And reaching out to travelers, either by an agency or by the employer, puts a personal touch on employees’ travels and lets them know you’re looking out for them and doing everything you can to keep them safe while they’re away from home.
Kathleen France is director of international reservations and services at Professional Travel Inc. Reach her at (440) 734-8800 x4015 or [email protected].
