“Many companies operate with a feudal mentality,” says Jon D. Groussman. They do a great job of protecting their employees “inside the castle”—think how difficult it is to get past a security guard or receptionist. However, they neglect their employees’ safety when they “leave the fortress and cross over the moat.”
It often takes a tragedy to make companies address the risks of business travel, Groussman says. He is president and chief operating officer of CAP Index, Inc., a crime forecasting company. He was interviewed by a reporter for our sister publication Best Practices in HR.
Personal Crimes Are the Most Common
Personal crimes, such as assaults and robberies, are the most common types of incidents that business travelers encounter, according to Groussman.
Often, companies make hotel and travel decisions based solely on price, rather than evaluating factors such as “the crime rate of the neighborhood where the hotel is located, basic security safeguards utilized at the property, or transportation after dark,” he says.
Ironically, employers go to great lengths to protect company-issued mobile devices and the data stored in them, but they aren’t proactive about ensuring the safety of the employees who carry those devices, Groussman laments.
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Prevention Tactics
When making travel plans, employers should consider location and assess the potential risks to employees, according to Groussman.
He also recommends researching a vendor’s services. “Hotels that offer safety features such as card key systems and controlled access [i.e., exterior doors are locked at a certain time] are significantly safer for business travelers,” he says.
When making travel arrangements, Groussman suggests asking questions, such as:
- Does the hotel conduct background checks on all employees?
- What types of security measures are in place?
- Does the hotel use closed-circuit television?
- What types of problems has the hotel had that might cause concern?
- Does the hotel meet the security recommendations of the American Hotel and Lodging Association?
- Are all individual franchise locations required to adhere to the corporation’s safety standards?
Groussman advises employers to educate business travelers about safety procedures they can follow to increase their own safety. He suggests that you provide your travelers with the following commonsense tips to reduce their potential exposure to crime:
- Get directions in advance.
- Do not leave valuables in plain sight in your motor vehicle.
- If arriving at a hotel in the evening, park as close to the front entrance as possible. If this is not possible, ask for an escort.
- Park under a lamp pole or lighting fixture.
- Ask for a room close to the front desk.
- Avoid late-night travel if you can.
- Use the buddy system when possible.
- Trust your instincts.
Groussman also recommends providing business travelers with an emergency company phone number in case they need some type of assistance, have to report an incident, or become ill. That could be a hotline or an after-hours number for a manager or HR director, he says.
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Protect Your Most Important Asset
“The bottom line is that employees are a company’s most important asset,” he says. “Employers need to take steps to protect that asset, not just when employees are in the office but when they travel for business, as well.”
In tomorrow’s Advisor, we’ll get tips from a detective on selecting a hotel room and take a look at the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s guest safety tips.
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