How Organisations can Promote Safety for Business Travellers
Intolerance and inequity continue to cast a shadow over the LGBTQ+ community, presenting critical challenges that demand our attention. By fostering awareness and providing comprehensive support, we can empower our LGBTQ+ colleagues to navigate unfamiliar territories with confidence, ensuring their safety and well-being in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.
As the world's leading medical and security services company, we are committed to creating an inclusive and safe environment for all employees around the globe, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We empower our LGBTQ+ travelling workforce to thrive and succeed, knowing their safety and well-being are our top priorities.
Through our Digital Learning Portfolio, we offer on-demand microlearning that covers destination-specific societal attitudes, biases and challenges that could pose potential risks to LGBTQ+ travellers. This module helps organisations fulfil their Duty of Care in safeguarding their diverse mobile workforce.
Discrimination and violence remain critical issues for the LGBTQ+ community. The risks faced by the LGBTQ+ workforce may vary based on the destination to which they travel and may be influenced by factors including legal status and social tolerance. Organisations should know that the travel experience can be very different for their LGBTQ+ workforce and must adequately prepare their employees for foreseeable health and travel security risks.
Laurent Fourier, CEO, Health & Security Subscription Services at International SOS
Top Five Tips for Organisations to Promote the Safety of Their LGBTQ+ Travelling Workforce
Encourage pre-trip research and preparation
Provide all travellers with access to LGBTQ+ information and pre-departure advice. Relevant information should include the local application of LGBTQ+ rights, restrictive laws, and societal attitudes at the travel destination.
Educate employees on safety precautions
Provide LGBTQ+ specific guidance on risks and mitigation to travelling employees to enable them to make informed decisions about their safety and that of their colleagues. This may include awareness on dress etiquette, avoiding high-risk areas and being mindful of exhibiting public displays of affection or exposing their personal information.
Ensure understanding of local immigration policies and airport security
Transgender travellers may experience difficulties entering a country if their identification documents do not match their current presentation. In some instances, it may help to speak to a medical professional ahead of travel to assess whether a supporting letter explaining could facilitate entry.
Offer safe accommodation recommendations
A lack of anti-discrimination laws might facilitate an ability to refuse accommodation. Provide employees with a list of accommodations with a proven commitment to LGBTQ+ safety and inclusivity.
Communicate LGBTQ+ inclusive policies and emergency contacts
Ensure that employees know their rights and the resources available to them. This helps LGBTQ+ travellers to feel supported and know where to seek assistance when required.
Click below to listen to a podcast from Tarun Nijjer, Lead Security Analyst for Europe, and Lead Security Analyst for West and Central Africa, Kirna Kataria from International SOS, on the security implications for the LGBTQ+ community, how to keep yourself safe during the celebrations, and how the situation will differ between countries and continents.
MedAire
360 clients have access to a Digital Learning Portfolio of on-demand online courses, including LGBTQ+ safety. Click below for more information on how MedAire can help safeguard your crew.