Does the company you work for have a travel security program in place?

A recent Travel Guard survey indicates that less than one quarter of security and risk managers feel the companies they work for are well prepared to handle an emergency involving employees traveling abroad. As an example, many respondents indicated their employers rely on dedicated phone lines and e-mail to stay connected with traveling employees.

While many people are concerned about terrorism, the survey found that general street crime is the highest concern, followed by kidnapping, identity theft, and illness or hospitalization. We recently reviewed the top hazards for business travelers that indicates that petty street crime is a far more likely threat than terrorism.

Over 30% of companies currently indicate that their employees are traveling more this year than they did in 2010. Travel Guard’s survey, however, found a great deal of uncertainty around company travel safety and security programs with nearly 25% of respondents unsure of what systems and programs their employer had in place.

Of course, even if your company won’t spring for travel insurance protections, many business travelers who travel frequently find that purchasing an annual travel insurance plan is the best way to ensure that they’ll return home safely. Many travel insurance plans provide a number of business traveler assistance services and ensure that you’ll have someone at your side if you are hospitalized. In addition, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing you left your family in the best shape possible if something truly dreadful happens.

Companies themselves can look into corporate kidnap, ransom, and extortion plans that will help protect them from critical losses as well.