Always on the safe side
In this age of globalization, more and more companies are sending their employees abroad. Working in an unfamiliar country, experiencing new things and dealing with a foreign language is very exciting for the employees, but it also entails a number of obligations for the employer. These include ensuring adequate employee protection so that they are well covered in the event of an emergency. In view of the increasing number of geopolitical and climate-related crises, employees may be exposed to dangers during their assignment abroad that they would not face in their home country.
Employer's obligation
In this context, it is essential that companies take certain precautionary measures before sending their employees abroad – especially if they are active in unstable, totalitarian or troubled countries. As part of their duty of care, it is essential that they not only inform their employees about cultural aspects and behavior in advance of the planned assignment, but also educate them about potential risks during their stay abroad. If companies fail to do so, the employee can refuse the trip or, in the worst case, even claim damages if an emergency occurs. That is why it is all the more important to also plan appropriate insurance cover for employees that guarantees the best possible occupational health and safety protection abroad.
In order to be able to offer companies, institutions and NGOs an optimal insurance solution for the secondment of their employees, we have now expanded our portfolio to include Travel Risk. “It is a unique hybrid of high-performance insurance products and comprehensive services such as risk consulting and analysis as well as claims and crisis management,” explains Nina Schaefer, who played a key role in developing the product as Head of Travel Insurance. The solution has a modular structure, offers maximum flexibility and can be tailored to our customers' individual needs.
Security with maximum flexibility
But before the appropriate insurance cover can be put together, the individual risk is analyzed first. Because it makes a big difference whether an employee is deployed in China, Japan or Somalia. In doing so, we examine what the employee needs in a risk area, what the current security situation is like or whether a security service or secure transport may even be needed. We then put together a tailor-made solution for our customers, their employees and their families.
The first module of TravelRisk includes health insurance with repatriation and medical assistance. This is because gastrointestinal or circulatory diseases, malaria or coronavirus, for example, are illnesses that occur frequently and for which employees are dependent on medication and medical assistance. Should this happen, competent service partners are available on site around the clock to coordinate all necessary steps and, in the worst case, even take care of repatriation to a German hospital. To ensure that it does not come to that, our travel risk managers provide companies with prevention advice and advise them on precautionary measures and necessary vaccinations before the trip begins.
If that is not enough, the second module adds accident, occupational disability or life insurance. If an accident occurs, 24/7 emergency hotlines are available to employees in different languages. Thanks to technical solutions, we can even locate the person who has had the accident, initiate the necessary rescue measures and, in an emergency, even organize their return transport. This also covers follow-up costs, hospital daily allowances and disability benefits. And in the most extreme cases, the occupational disability or life insurance policy takes effect and secures the future of the employee or their family.
The third component is a high-risk insurance policy, which is particularly necessary when employees are posted to crisis regions, as it also covers life-threatening situations. It includes not only safety and behavioral advice, but also comprehensive information on the threat situation and preventive measures. In an emergency, we also support our customers in close cooperation with our global partners with a special crisis management service that even includes evacuation from the crisis area in the event of terrorist attacks, kidnappings, assaults or political unrest.
Even if such events cannot always be avoided, they can at least be covered. We ensure this with our customized insurance solutions and our worldwide network of qualified partners and service providers. They are on hand locally to provide support, manage the damage or crisis, or coordinate the various trades. Each customer has their own dedicated point of contact who is always on hand to assist them – from risk analysis and purchasing tailored insurance solutions to providing support in the event of a claim.
“We have expanded our portfolio to include Travel Risk for a very specific reason. Now we can offer customized services for the security of their employees not only to institutions and NGOs, but also to companies that employ expats.”
Nina Schaefer, Head of Travel Risk