International SOS facilitates the safe return to business travel with
its latest risk management tool, the Covid Trip Planner. It provides
clients with personalised information and travel planning advice,
accessible via the International SOS ManagerView and Assistance App.
Navigating the changing landscape of Covid-19 restrictions requires
travellers to keep updated on the latest news. The planner provides
travel updates according to destination, country visa requirements,
testing requirements and quarantine mandates. This information is
provided by Sherpa, International SOS’s global data provider.
“Omicron has sparked another wave of travel bans and many countries
have taken the decision to reverse their border easing in fear of the
highly transmissible variant. We expect travel regulations to
continuously evolve, and the impact of Covid-19 may even transform the
way we travel for many years to come. Each trip may require a risk
management process based on the destination, need for travel, as well as
additional Covid-19 restrictions,” said Dr Jamon Ngoencharee, Chief
Medical Officer, International SOS.
The current landscape requires planners and travel managers to
re-design their meetings and travel programmes for employees. It goes
hand in hand with duty of care in ensuring employees get the necessary
support while travelling for meetings and events.
International SOS’s Regional Security Manager, Leo Ng shared that its workforce resilience programme is designed for optimal preparation in layered threat environments. Photo Credit: International SOS
In this context of risk management, International SOS’s Regional
Security Manager Leo Ng shared, “We have developed a comprehensive
workforce resilience programme that is designed to prepare the entire
workforce for layered threat environments. It helps them to feel
supported and productive, and provides them with assistance whenever
they have a question, concern, or crisis.
“To encompass the varied risks faced by different segments of the
workforce (domestic employees, the travelling workforce, or
international assignees), risk management programmes must comprise three
key pillars: individual risk assessment, open communication, and
education.”
Ng added that it is vital to understand the unique risk profile of
each segment of the workforce in order to design strategies that
effectively mitigate these risks. It ensures employees are well-informed
when changes are implemented.
The Covid Trip Planner enables access to the International SOS
Assistance Centre 24/7 Support, a key resource in enabling clients to
connect with medical or security professionals whenever needed.