New findings identify new risks facing business travelers and highlight employers’ role in preparing and protecting workers

January 19, 2024 – Hamilton Square, NJ – Business travel is on the rise, with the number of business trips expected to reach pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2024.[1] While the outlook for business travel looks promising, travelers will continue to face significant challenges – severe weather events, geopolitical turmoil, and civil unrest – and many do not feel prepared to handle these obstacles. These findings come from the 2024 Business Travel Risk Trends and Insights report, released today by Berkley Accident and Health, a Berkley Company.

“Employees face an increasing number of risks in 2024, which includes the potential for more mundane problems, such as theft or flight cancellations,” said Brad Nieland, President and CEO.  “Our research identified their top concerns, as well as steps employers should take to address those concerns.”

Berkley Accident and Health commissioned a survey of 1,000 U.S. workers who travel both domestically and internationally and work for a wide range of companies, from small businesses to large corporations. The purpose of the research was to analyze employee attitudes regarding business travel and give business leaders a better understanding of how travel has changed since the pandemic.

Key Findings

• Workers face greater risks when traveling for business, such as increasing motor vehicle and pedestrian deaths, rising civil and political unrest, and more frequent weather disruptions from floods, wildfires, and heatwaves.
• Many workers do not feel adequately protected or prepared for business trips, particularly workers at small companies or those traveling outside the U.S. Personal safety is a top concern, along with theft, losing a passport, and becoming sick or injured while away from home.
• Eight out of ten workers believe their employer has a responsibility to prepare and protect them while traveling.
• Business travel can have an impact on workers’ mental health, particularly those at small companies. 16% of workers at small companies say that business trips have a negative effect on their mental health.

“There is a great opportunity for employers and risk managers to re-evaluate their approach to business travel, and we hope our research encourages companies to be proactive and ensure their employees are adequately protected and prepared,” explained Nieland.

Key Takeaways for Employers

• Communicate with your employees about common scenarios, such as canceled flights, lost or stolen items, and weather-related events, and how they can prepare and respond. Explain what company resources are available to them in the event of an emergency.
• Evaluate whether your current insurance adequately protects your employees. Consider adding a Business Travel Accident policy, if one is not in place, and ask whether it includes 24/7 emergency travel assistance services.
• Review the 2021 release of the ISO 31030 guidelines for mitigating business travel risk[2], and assess your current policies and procedures relative to best practices.  

Building a company culture that encourages open and transparent communication is essential for companies wanting to prepare employees before they head out on business trips. Employers should evaluate the new risks workers face and make sure their travel policies emphasize employee safety first.

Read the full report here

Methodology

The findings come from a survey commissioned in the third quarter of 2023 of 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older who take at least one domestic or international business trip per year. Respondents were balanced across age, gender, U.S. region, income, job level, and employer size.

About Berkley Accident and Health

Berkley Accident and Health is committed to protecting the financial well-being of people and organizations. We are an industry leader offering an innovative portfolio of accident and health solutions and the personal support that our clients need. Berkley Accident and Health is a member of W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, and provides Employer Stop Loss, Group Captive, Specialty Accident, and Managed Care solutions nationwide. Stop Loss and Managed Care coverage is underwritten by Berkley Life and Health Insurance Company, rated A+ (Superior) by A.M. Best. Specialty Accident coverage is underwritten by Berkley Life and Health Insurance Company or StarNet Insurance Company. For more information, please visit www.BerkleyAH.com.

[1] U.S. Travel Association, U.S. Travel Forecast: All Sectors Projected to Surge in Short Term, but Headwinds Are on Horizon, June 2022, https://www.ustravel.org/press/us-travel-forecast-all-sectors-projected-surge-short-term-headwinds-are-horizon.

[2] ISO, ISO 31030:2021 – Travel Risk Management: Guidance for Organizations, September 2021, https://www.iso.org/standard/54204.html.

BAH SR 2024-03PR