du·ty

noun \?dü-t? also ?dyü-\ : a moral or legal obligation, responsibility or commitment

care

noun \?ker\ : effort made to do something correctly, safely, or without causing damage

“Duty of Care” is currently a popular topic in the travel industry for important reasons:

• The world can be a dangerous place with many risks
• Organizations have a responsibility to keep their travelers informed and safe
• Organizations are a target for lawsuits when things do not go as planned
• Providing critical information and support to your travelers is good customer service and good business

At Christopherson Business Travel, we believe that duty of care consists of four key elements:

1)  Pre-trip –

Or in other words, the “need to know before you go” information

• What are the current conditions at the proposed destination?
• Is is safe to go? Are there Weather, Political, Security, Natural Disasters, or Health issues?
• Does the traveler need any special documents to travel, i.e. passport, visa, immunizations?
• Will the traveler be traveling with others on this trip for safety and/or support?

2)  En-route –

Where you keep your travelers informed of current issues while en-route

• Have circumstances at the destination changed since the travelers departure?
• Are there updates on developing issues that need to be monitored?
• Are all of your travelers safe and accounted for?
• Do you have multiple ways to communicate with your travelers, i.e. text, email, phone?

3)  Emergency Response –

Supporting or evacuating your travelers when circumstances deteriorate

• Do you have a plan for support or evacuation of travelers in need?
• Do your travelers have the training/skills needed in an emergency situation?
• Do you have access to the traveler’s emergency contact info, i.e. family, friends, etc.?

4)  Post Trip –

Documenting and reporting your duty of care activities

• Do you have documentation showing you have met your ‘Duty of Care’ to your travelers?
• Do you have the ability to report upstream to senior management?
• Do you review past situations for opportunities to improve your program?

If you need help determining and fulfilling your duty of care responsibilities, please contact a Christopherson Business Travel Account Manager. We help companies of all sizes meet this key responsibility and have the tools and expertise to help you be successful.