PwC is showing corporates how to handle global travel risk

When employees travel for business, there are several risk factors to consider – from civil unrest and the threat of crime to natural disasters and terrorism. The recent COVID-19 outbreak has added another critical consideration: risk to health and wellbeing.

Setting safer standards

Until last year, there was no formal travel risk assessment standard for corporate travellers. The development of the first global standard for corporate travel risk management – ISO 31030 – provides a standard for organisations that wish to ensure best practice in this area.

The standard covers all aspects of corporate travel including authorisations, planning, policy, traveller assessment, transportation, destination, and accommodation. As well as providing peace of mind to employees, meeting the standard can help reduce legal and financial risk if things go wrong during travel.

GSA has now unveiled its independently assessed ISO 31030 Organisation Readiness Assessment & Audit Programme that allows organisations to gauge where their existing travel risk management processes and policies sit. With the help of a GSA auditor, organisations can plug any gaps in policies and make existing practices more robust in line with ISO 31030 guidance.  Successfully accredited corporations receive an independent certification from government-regulated awarding body, SFJ Awards.

Taking control of employee safety

Leading professional services firm, PwC, is the first company to receive certification under the new programme. The firm has an extensive global network of travelling employees. As part of its commitment to deliver duty of care to employees the company engaged with GSA to benchmark its current policies and procedures against the ISO 31030 standard.

PwC’s UK Security Lead, Richard Stanley, has been close to the process throughout: “Our experience of the accreditation process and the GSA auditors was extremely positive. It was obvious from the start the GSA auditors were experienced and practical experts. The audit was rigorous but was conducted in a way that avoided undue disruption to our business. We cannot recommend it enough.”

In an increasingly uncertain world, it is important to provide travelling employees with assurance. The new ISO 31030 standard, along with GSA’s Assessment & Audit programme, offers organisations an invaluable resource to demonstrate best practice in corporate travel risk management.

Find out more about GSA’s ISO 31030 Assessment & Audit scheme here.