International Employee Security Issues Affecting Expatriate Safety and Globally Mobile Executives

In 2009 the world is a dangerous place. When expatriate employees are sent on international assignment or even on short trips, it is still the traditional employee benefits like medical insurance that get most of the attention with multinational employers. It is surprising how many organizations that are considered leaders in their industry have a very poor or even nonexistent strategy when it comes to the international safety of the expatriates and global travelers.

Please note, this section is geared more to global employers. If you are an individual looking for an international personal security plan, I hope you will contact us and request more information.

Even most companies that have addressed the international security need have done little more than implement some sort of kidnap and ransom insurance policy, and many are of very poor quality. If you have a kidnap & ransom insurance policy on all expatriates, key executives, or select executives residing in certain countries how would you answer these questions below:

1. When was the last time you looked at the expatriate security policy and kidnap and ransom insurance program? Has it been dusted off recently? If it has been over 2 years there may some serious problems that could expose the employer to a certain amount of liability.
2. Is the kidnap and ransom plan "attached" to another international insurance policy, or is it stand alone? What do you pay for it? A K&R program that is attached or "thrown in" with another insurance plan with low costs is not worth much. You absolutely get what you pay for here.
3. How many people in the organization know about the kidnap and ransom program? Note, this is a trick question.
4. Do expatriate employees know what to do in an emergency situation overseas. Who do they call? Where do the go in an overseas emergency? How do they get out of the country if this is necessary? Is this all explained and documented? Do employees carry this information with them as they travel?
5. Do you have a way of knowing exactly where your people are in the world? As you can never know where everyone is at all times, it's remarkable how many organization really don't keep track of where their employees are at all.
6. What is the expertise of our U.S. security personnel in handling international security concerns? Are they international experts or trying to make due the best they can with limited international experience?

International Safety and Security Risks Come In Many Forms, Not Just Kidnap and Abduction.

Many companies with a quality kidnap and ransom insurance program think that is all there is to it and they are finished. Kidnap is rare. Threat (verbal or physical) and extortion is much more common. Do your employees know what to do if a note is slipped under the door at 2 a.m. that says "get out of the country or else!" Employers need to understand that if something happens to employees as globally mobile individuals and they don't have first rate plans, security protocols and programs, they are exposing the company to a tremendous amount of liability via lawsuit not to mention tarnished image from doing a poor job with international employee security.