60% OF UK BUSINESS TRAVELLERS SAY EMPLOYERS COULD DO MORE TO ENSURE THEIR SAFETY
- 69% of UK business travellers would decline a work trip if they felt their safety and wellbeing were not being prioritised; 60% would quit their job if they felt travel safety wasn’t a priority
Six in ten (60%) UK business travellers believe their employer could do more to ensure their safety while travelling for work, according to a new Opinium* survey of 500 business travellers, commissioned by World Travel Protection, a global travel risk management organisation.
Younger employees are significantly more likely to feel that employers could do more to keep them safe, with 63% of under-34s agreeing, compared to just 31% of over-55s.
More than two-thirds (69%) of respondents said they would decline a business trip if they did not feel confident that their employer was prioritising their safety and wellbeing; and 60% would consider leaving their job if they felt their travel safety was being taken seriously.
When it comes to support during travel, 64% want their employer to check in on them more frequently, rising to 73% of under-34s compared to just 40% of over-55s.
However, only 16% of business travellers said they had no support from their employer for a work trip. The assistance they received included:
- 24/7 emergency helpline (30%);
- Pre-travel briefing on key risks and cultural norms (25%);
- Regular check-ins to ensure their safety and comfort (25%);
- Government-issued advisories (24%);
- Access to a travel risk management company for medical or security issues (23%);
- Tailored advice based on their itinerary (23%);
- Travel risk app with live alerts and access to support (21%).
Kate Fitzpatrick, Security Director, EMEA, at World Travel Protection, said: “Travel preparation is absolutely vital. Travellers need thorough pre-trip briefings, clear guidance on local risks, and the reassurance of knowing exactly where to turn for support while away. International travel always carries an element of risk, and insurance only kicks in after something has gone wrong. It doesn’t help you avoid medical and security risks before they happen or support your people in their moment of need.”
“That’s why it’s not enough to take a reactive approach,” continued Fitzpatrick. “Employers must show their people that they are actively protected throughout the journey. Partnering with a travel risk management company like World Travel Protection eliminates gaps in travel coverage, care, and intelligence – ensuring employees have 24/7 access to real-time security and health information, along with a global network of trusted medical and security experts.”
*Opinium online survey conducted with 500 UK people, who travel for business at least once a year from 3 – 10 February 2025.
About World Travel Protection
Founded in 1988, World Travel Protection is a global leader in travel risk management, providing corporate and leisure travellers with access to 24-hour expertise and support.
Travel risk management encompasses medical case management, evacuation, and repatriation together with providing access to virtual care services (telehealth) and security intelligence. In addition to support services for medical, travel, and security emergencies, World Travel Protection educates and trains businesses to mitigate exposure to inherent risks associated with travelling abroad. These proactive travel risk management services focus on understanding unique risks based on traveller profile, the activity being conducted, and destination risks to ensure foreseeable risks are understood and managed.
Millions of travellers place their trust in World Travel Protection each year for assistance across 200 countries and territories.
World Travel Protection is part of Zurich Cover-More, a global travel insurance and assistance group and wholly owned by Zurich Insurance Group.
For more information, visit www.worldtravelprotection.com
