Political unrest can turn a simple business trip into a serious security problem in a matter of hours. Protests can escalate, airports can close, roads can become impassable and governments can impose curfews or border restrictions at very short notice. Employees who hoped to fly home might suddenly find themselves with no safe way out.
The immediate question for employers is how to get everyone home, not just where people are, if they’re safe, and what makes sense given the conditions on the ground. A successful corporate crisis response requires accurate information and decisions that recognise each employee’s individual circumstances.
What Happens When Political Unrest Traps Employees Abroad?
The decision of whether or not an individual should go to a high-risk destination is different from protecting an employee who is already there. Once the unrest has started, the company has to deal with the situation as it is.
This means establishing contact, checking local conditions and knowing which journeys can continue safely. As Securewest explains in our guide to how civil unrest affects travel, unrest can impact people well outside the immediate area of the protest. All transport routes, access to accommodation, and essential services may be affected.
Employers also have a duty of care to think about. A good understanding of duty of care for global organisations helps put the responsibility into perspective. Companies need a clear process for identifying risks, communicating with travellers, and responding when circumstances change.
What Should a Company Do During a Business Travel Emergency?
Establish Where Employees Are and Whether They Are Safe
Start by identifying who is in the affected area, including employees whose itineraries may have changed. Check their location, welfare and immediate needs directly or through established traveller communication systems.
Don’t assume a missed flight means someone is at risk or that an employee who hasn’t raised the alarm is necessarily safe. Some may have lost their cell service and been unable to respond. Securewest’s advice on fulfilling duty of care provides useful context for building these responsibilities into everyday travel procedures, rather than improvising them during an emergency.
Monitor the Situation and Give Clear Instructions
Political situations change rapidly. An airport that has suspended flights may reopen later in the day, and a route that was previously open may become unsafe. Keep track of local security developments, transportation updates, official advisories and any curfews or border restrictions affecting the traveller.
Employees need concrete instructions, not just a warning to be vigilant. Tell them what neighbourhoods to avoid, how often to check in, who to contact and what to do if communications break down. Guidance should be tailored to the location and situation, and not presume that everyone is at the same level of risk. Securewest’s advice on lone-worker safety when travelling abroad is especially relevant for employees travelling alone. A clear contact process matters when there are no colleagues around to help.
Should Employees Stay, Relocate or Be Evacuated?
When political unrest flares, evacuation is not always the safest answer. It is also more dangerous to get people through crowded streets, to a crowded airport, or across an unstable border. The decision should be based on the threat at their current location, availability of safe accommodation, access to medical care and the likely conditions along any proposed route.
In some cases, a secure hotel or other suitable location is the better short-term option. In others, it may be appropriate to move to a safer district or another city while international transport is limited.
When the threat cannot be adequately controlled in place or access to critical services and safe egress is becoming increasingly difficult, an employee evacuation is required. Companies need to have decision thresholds established ahead of time but also need to remain flexible enough to respond to changing circumstances. Securewest’s article on the changing landscape of travel risk management considers the broader need to adapt travel security arrangements as threats evolve.
How Should Companies Manage an Evacuation?
Once a move is approved, the organisation needs a viable plan. That means checking which airports are open, whether roads are passable and whether land borders are open and what restrictions apply to onwards travel.
But a route that seems straightforward on the map may be unusable due to demonstrations, checkpoints or abrupt closures. Alternative transport should only be considered after assessing availability and security implications.
Local knowledge can be invaluable here. Specialist security advisers can assist in assessing routes, pinpointing safer departure points and organising appropriate support. Especially in dangerous situations, organisations may have to use emergency evacuation services instead of normal commercial travel arrangements.
Communication should be continuous all along the journey. Employees should be aware who is orchestrating their movements, when to expect the next update and how to report a change in circumstances. The response team should log departures, arrivals and any changes to the plan to ensure that no-one is mistakenly assumed to have made it to safety.
Why Travel Risk Intelligence Matters During Political Unrest
Good decisions require up-to-date information. An assessment prepared before a trip cannot anticipate all developments that occur while an employee is overseas.
Securewest’s advice on updated country information and risk assessment highlights the need to keep destination risks under review. In the event of an incident, this means monitoring developments that might affect a particular traveller, rather than simply tracking the headlines about the country as a whole.
Securewest’s travel risk intelligence services can help you understand emerging threats and changing local conditions. This information is most useful when it informs a decision: to restrict movement, to stay put, to relocate, or to start departure arrangements.
Combining intelligence with traveller visibility also assists companies in understanding who may be impacted by an incident. A useful system should make it easier to see who needs to be contacted and who needs help right now.
When Should Companies Use Specialist Crisis Support?
Some organisations have the staff and local knowledge to manage a disruption themselves. For some, it might mean dealing with unfamiliar authorities, uncertain transport arrangements and rapidly deteriorating conditions in a country where they have no established support network.
Specialist help can bridge that gap. Securewest’s travel security advisory service is a useful starting point for organisations considering how expert advice can inform decision making during a developing security incident.
For more complicated situations, companies might need help with the coordination of local security support, medical aid or departure arrangements. The level of support needed depends on the threat, the needs of the employee and what is available locally.
Technology can help maintain visibility and communication but not sound judgement. Another resource for organisations considering how to manage traveller information and respond to emerging risks is Securewest’s SPHERE travel risk platform.
Preparing for an Employee Emergency Before It Happens
The best time to implement an emergency procedure is before a traveller is stranded. Companies should know who leads corporate crisis management, who reaches out to affected employees and who has authority to approve a relocation or departure. Those responsibilities should be clear even when you are not at your normal place of work or during your normal working hours.
A written plan should also have procedures for checking in, for escalating issues, emergency contacts and arrangements for getting specialist help. Regular reviews and scenario exercises can spot gaps before they are a problem.
For organisations with staff travelling internationally, corporate travel security should be part of the trip planning process, not an afterthought. Having a considered approach to international travel risk provides managers with a more robust basis for decision-making, while clearly outlined procedures help safeguard employee travel safety when events take an unforeseen turn.
Find out how Securewest International’s travel security services, intelligence, advice and international crisis management can prepare your organisation for disruption and respond when your employees need support when they are abroad.