Risk Conversation®

Corporate travel is returning to pre-pandemic levels. And while a full recovery is still some time away, domestic business travel has seen a seven-fold increase since the onset of the pandemic in April 2020 according to International SOS, a health and security services organization. So, what do companies need to know as in-person conferences once again become the norm, and business trips replace virtual meetings?

For newer and growing companies in particular, one of the most important things to understand about business travel is that it does not only involve trips by plane. While the stereotypical image many people have of business travel is that of long flights to conferences in distant cities, the majority of business trips taken by U.S. based employees are domestic, with most being less than 250 miles in distance and only 7% of trips flying further than 1,000 miles. This means that a large portion of U.S. business travel is done via either train or automobile – both of which are more dangerous modes of transportation than flying according to data from The National Safety Council.

A traveling salesperson for a smaller business who would typically drive to client destinations would be statistically more likely to be involved in an accident than one who spends time traveling via plane – showcasing the importance of business travel insurance for companies of all sizes and the importance of understanding the versatility in coverage across transportation modes.

Another important fact about business travel insurance is that it is not only for incidents that occur while actively traveling. In fact, a company’s sole reliance on workers compensation to cover employees while they travel may lead to serious coverage gaps, as workers compensation is only meant to cover employees for the hours that they are working. If an employee is working for eight hours on a business trip, that leaves sixteen hours in the day during which incidents can occur that may not be covered by workers compensation.

For insurance agents and brokers, the importance of business travel-related coverage cannot be overstated, especially for newer or smaller clients that may not realize potential coverage gaps when it comes to conducting official company business that requires travel for employees. It is imperative that agents and brokers properly educate clients about how to protect their most important asset – their employees.

Generally, a business travel accident policy may provide a multiplier of an employee’s salary for both domestic and out of country medical coverage; this could include coverage for accidents and sicknesses that may arise while on the road as a result of a work responsibility. This works in tandem with voluntary workers compensation to fill in the potential coverage gaps.

Ultimately, any kind of travel can be unpredictable no matter how near or far, or by what mode of transportation. As such, comprehensive business travel insurance may play an important part in a company’s dedication to the safety and well-being of its employees. To learn more about the nuances of business travel and how business travel insurance can play a role in your protection plan, visit https://www.chubb.com/us-en/business-insurance/business-travel-accident-insurance.html.

Paige McIntyre is AVP, San Francisco Marketing Manager at Chubb.