Duty of care in business travel has two main dimensions covering both moral and legal obligations of employers to their traveling employees. A duty of care implies a responsibility to ensure safety, security, and well-being while traveling on company business.
Recent case law has ruled that even during ‘off-hours,’ duty of care still exists.
While traveling for business, employers and employees must act reasonably to avoid risks of injury or exposure to adverse conditions.
A comprehensive corporate travel policy will guide bookings for business travel to ensure that only approved airlines, hotels, and destinations are used after auditing their standards. It’s also common to require that all business travel is booked using company-approved tools. This ensures that travel managers know itineraries during disruptions, natural disasters, and other disturbances.
Corporate culture is an essential component when mitigating risk, and the education of a company’s workforce can aid in mitigating safety concerns while traveling.