UK business travellers are being given “surprisingly low” levels of practical support to enhance their wellbeing and safety when on the road, according to a survey by security specialist World Travel Protection.
While nearly two-thirds of travellers (65 per cent) are confident that their employer is concerned about their wellbeing and safety, this does not necessarily translate into offering tangible forms of support.
The survey of 500 UK-based business travellers found that only 17 per cent are being provided with a travel risk app offering live destination alerts and location notifications for emergencies.
An even lower number of travellers (15 per cent) receive a full briefing from their organisation on their destination, while just 14 per cent are given an emergency phone number that can be used outside of business hours. Similarly, only 13 per cent said they receive regular “check ins” from their employer when travelling.
This lack of practical support comes despite 59 per cent of travellers saying that their organisation now takes the potential risks associated with business trips more seriously than they used to.
The survey suggests most organisations need to be doing more to support staff on the road, with 58 per cent wanting their employer to check in with them more frequently, while only half feel that their wellbeing is being “taken seriously” by their company when they are travelling.
World Travel Protection also found that 73 per cent of travellers would decline to go on a trip if they did not feel confident that their employer was prioritising their safety and wellbeing, with 63 per cent adding that they would quit their job if this was the case.
Kate Fitzpatrick, regional security director for the EMEA region at World Travel Protection, said: “This research shows that businesses are at risk of losing essential employees with so many prepared to decline business trips or even leave their jobs if they feel their safety and wellbeing on business trips is not being taken seriously.
“There’s plenty of scope for employers to improve the support they give to their travelling teams from providing in-depth pre-travel briefings, to checking in with them regularly whilst they’re away.”