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Most, 79pc, of business travellers are engaging in risky behaviours they wouldn’t consider at home, a survey for a medical and security services company suggests. That could be gambling or using illicit substances, getting into a car with a stranger, or ignoring local safety advice. Only 20pc of respondents say they behave in the same way on the road as they would at home.
Younger business travellers, those just entering the workforce or early in their careers, are especially prone to taking chances, often in ways that increase personal risk. Travellers under 34 are nearly four times more likely than older colleagues (55-plus) to ignore health advice such as drinking tap water or eating at questionable venues; they are also more likely to ride motorbikes and electric scooters, and engage in other risky recreational activities. In contrast, business travellers aged 55-plus are far more likely to stick to their usual habits; as four in ten (42pc) stating they don’t behave any differently while travelling, compared to just 15pc of those under 34.
Frank Harrison is Regional Security Director, Americas at World Travel Protection, an arm of the insurer Zurich, which offers support, evacuation or repatriation to customers. He said: “While engaging in these kinds of risky behaviours may seem fun at the time, they not only endanger the traveller but also place employers in a challenging position. This data is a reminder of companies’ legal and moral obligation to ensure the safety of travelling employees, or what we refer to as duty of care. Failing to uphold this obligation can carry serious legal consequences.
“Before they travel, employers should educate employees on local risks, help them plan ahead, and make sure they’re prepared to make safe decisions while on the road.”
As for the different behaviours:
• Getting into a car with a new friend or stranger: Two in 10 (20pc) global business travellers report doing this, with 22pc of those under 34; in contrast to just 10pc of those over 55. (UK figure is 20pc)
• Venturing out without informing anyone of location and/or plans:Almost two in ten (18pc) global business travellers report doing this. (UK figure is 15pc)
• Riding an electric scooter, motorbike, or electric bike: One in seven (16pc) global business travellers report doing this, with 21pc of respondents under 34 admitting to it, compared to just 7pc of those over-55. (UK figure; 14pc)
• Ignoring health precautions (like drinking tap water or eating at questionable venues/street food vendors): One in seven (15pc) global business travellers admit to this, with 18pc of those under 34 but only 5pc of those over 55. (UK figure 12pc)
• Engaging in risky recreational activities (such as gambling, taking illicit substances): One in seven global business travellers (14pc) admit to this. Those under 34 are almost twice as likely to say they gamble or take drugs on work trips compared to respondents over 55 (15pc versus 8pc). (UK figure, 12pc)
• Ignoring local safety advice or guidelines: One in ten global business travellers (11pc) say they do this, dropping to 4pc among travellers over 55. (UK figure, 11pc)
• Changing their behaviours while traveling: Only 15pc of global under 34s say they don’t do anything differently when travelling for work, compared to 42pc of those over 55 – who tend to play it safe. (Global overall stat is 20pc and the UK’s is 21pc)
About the survey
Opinium carried out an online survey with 2000 people, who travel for business at least once a year in each of the UK (500 respondents), the United States (500 respondents), Canada (500 respondents) and Australia (500 respondents) in February.
Visit www.worldtravelprotection.com.
