Despite the fact that many organizations are pushing a return to normal, some employees still aren’t ready to get on an airplane. Whether it’s border closures, stalled vaccination rates or the growing threat of the Delta variant, they’ve been in control of managing their own comings and goings, and they may not be ready to follow your organization’s timeline. Employers can have a positive impact on their employees if they consider the situation from the employee’s perspective.

Offer Appropriate Travel Insurance

This seems like a no-brainer, but travel coverage can make the difference between your employee being able to get home quickly and easily and that same employee being stuck away from home, not knowing how to return home or get the help they need.

Whether you are sending your employees to the next province or halfway around the world, you need to offer appropriate business travel coverage. The coverage protects the employee from any financial hardships they may face due to an unexpected accident and also protects the company from any potential liability claims.

Most organizations offer one of these two travel benefits:

  • A travel insurance benefit that is part of the Group Benefit insurance plan. Typically, this is an out-of-country travel plan that covers unforeseen accident and sickness expenses. Many carriers have upgraded these basic policies to cover risks, with the addition of COVID-19 under the standard pre-existing clause.
  • A Business Travel Accident policy, a special coverage designed for employees who travel regularly for their organization. The plans include enhanced travel periods, limits, crisis response services and employee notification services on high-risk locations.

In recent months, more and more organizations are purchasing Business Travel Accident policies for their employees as a way of demonstrating their concern for their employees.

Demonstrate You Care

As the employer, you have a responsibility to demonstrate a duty of care. This means your employees are fully covered with no gaps in their travel insurance. It ensures the employee is not at risk for medical costs or left to handle an emergency alone. 

The standard employee benefit plan – with the Out-of-Country Benefit – is typically enough to protect your employees. But if your goal is to reassure your employees, it’s important to demonstrate your duty of care as well.

Start with a thorough risk assessment of the organization’s travel risk to determine the appropriate level of coverage and secure a different travel policy, if necessary. Get ready for the change and prepare your employees by considering these factors:

  • Start slowly. Despite the anticipation around a return to business travel, understand that it requires a heightened sense of caution right now.
  • Understand your plan. Familiarize yourself with the travel insurance option that you offer your employees. Consult with a specialist to confirm that your travel benefits are up to date and competitive.
  • Prepare your employees. Make sure employees understand what the policy covers and excludes as well as when it responds. Provide resources such as travel advisory website links and insurance carrier updates on travel locations. This will help employees make sound decisions when travelling.
  • Be kind. Each employee is unique. Some have more anxiety and may need reassurance, while some are ready to jump right in. Still, others may need to relearn normal social behaviours. And each employee will want to feel supported and valued along the way.
  • Carefully consider each trip. Each trip should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Take the particulars into account: who is travelling, how comfortable they are, and the location and length of the trip. Visit the Government of Canada website or check with the insurance carrier to confirm the destination isn’t restricted in any way.

Finally, remember that not all business travel involves crossing international borders. And while inter-provincial travel may seem less complicated than international travel, there are risks to any travel. An employee may need a travel plan for unforeseen medical expenses to travel across provincial borders as well.

If you are considering a return to business travel in your organization, take your time. Think about it from all angles. It’s always best to be prepared ahead of time.