Business trips abroad, everything you need for safe travel
For a company to grow, it is often necessary for employees to travel. These business trips enable the company to promote itself, take part in conferences, seminars, conventions and trade shows, meet customers and negotiate partnerships.
However, moving an employee abroad is not always a trivial matter. Certain parameters need to be taken into account to ensure both the well-being and the safety of the employee. You need to be aware that, by going abroad, your employee is exposed to infectious diseases, kidnapping, war or terrorism, depending of course on the country he or she is going to and the geopolitics of the moment.
These business trips abroad, also known as missions, must meet the following conditions: when the employee spends less than 90 consecutive days abroad, and when he or she spends less than 180 days abroad for business reasons.
How to prepare business trips abroad?
While it used to be a real headache to plan business trips abroad, today's technological advances have made things much easier. Companies now have travel management services at their disposal. As a general rule, there are several steps involved in preparing business trips abroad.
- The first step is to gather all the information relevant to the mission. Is it a meeting with partners? When will the meeting take place? How long will it take to get there? Do I need a visa?
- Once this information has been gathered, we need to decide on the means of transport, whether by plane, train or private car... If possible, we make reservations.
- You also need to make a hotel reservation to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
- Administrative preparation also includes checking the validity of personal documents such as identity card, business card, driving license, passport...
- The health aspect should not be overlooked either. Remember to check vaccinations, and make sure you have a prescription or medication if you suffer from a chronic illness.
- To this must be added the security aspect if your employee is called upon to travel to a conflict-ridden area. In some cases, companies do not hesitate to call on the services of a bodyguard.
Why take out insurance for employees traveling abroad on business?
In France, most employees are covered by social security in the event of illness. But once outside the country, this social security is not always recognized or effective.
That's why additional insurance is essential. For business trips abroad, it is the employer's responsibility to take out individual travel insurance.
This insurance covers several aspects, including care, hospitalization, flight delays and cancellations, natural disasters, theft and assault. Individual travel insurance has several advantages: employees are better protected during their assignment, they have higher ceilings to manage the risks they face abroad, and they benefit from assistance every day, even at weekends.
It's also a win-win situation for the employer. During an assignment, if the employee encounters difficulties, the employer is legally liable. This means that the financial consequences, which can sometimes be considerable, are borne by the company. What's more, the budget allocated to this insurance is not necessarily very high, as it costs on average between 500 and 1000 euros for a dozen employees, and for one year.
Where can I buy travel insurance for business trips abroad?
Many travel agencies offer individual travel insurance. However, the benefits are not the same. CTA Business Travel offers insurance policies specifically designed for business travellers, perfectly adapted to the various constraints associated with business trips. In fact, the agency guarantees its customers greater flexibility and speed in the processing of documents, particularly when it comes to obtaining a visa and taking out insurance.
CTA Business Travel offers insurance cover for postponed or cancelled appointments, lost luggage and repatriation...
For greater flexibility, the agency offers three types of travel insurance:
Pro A
Insurance that covers all cancellations. All you need to do is present proof of purchase.
Pro AB
Insurance that also covers all cancellations, baggage, flight delays or missed connections.
Pro multi
The most comprehensive insurance. It covers all cancellations, baggage, business repatriation assistance, flight delays or missed connections, civil liability and accident cover.
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