Have you ever felt like your employer thinks once you get on a plane you are
no longer his responsibility? If so, you are not alone.
New legislation was introduced this year and many of the UK's FTSE-100
companies have reviewed their security policies. Yet even in the biggest
companies, travellers can still feel their security or welfare is not of the
highest concern when they are away from the office.
Amelia Koulis, who works for a multi-national company headquartered in the US,
and covers Europe, the Middle East and Africa, felt her security worries
about her recent trip to Lagos were just ignored. “The thing is my bosses
work in an air-conditioned office in Middle America and have no idea what it
is like to travel in Africa.”
When Amelia was sent out to Nigeria for a meeting, she drew attention to the
dangerous reputation of Lagos, and asked for a review of her personal
security during her trip. This was deemed not necessary, despite the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office (FCO) warnings of high risks of kidnapping in Lagos
and Nigeria generally. Current FCO advice warns “There is a general threat
from terrorism in Nigeria. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in
places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. ” It also warns of
an increase in muggings, car-jackings and armed robberies in Lagos.
Despite these easily available warnings, and others available from security
firms, Amelia, a senior manager in her 30s, was offered little reassurance
from her own company and was forced to fall back on the help of friends from
other companies.
She says: “I contacted two friends ahead of my trip who I know have offices
and have travelled there. One was in the oil business and the other in the
drinks industry. Both offered and contacted their local people on my behalf.
“I was not hugely impressed that the 'corporate security' information gathered
by my company was not more broadly shared across the organisation or policy
strictly mandated or implemented.”
Her friends were extremely concerned about the attitude of that her
multi-national company was taking. She says: “As a woman travelling on my
own, I should have had a clearer indication that I would be met, who I would
meet and that I would be transported to the hotel.”
She was even offered advice by a fellow passenger: “When I finally cleared the
chaotic immigration line and customs. I was told to resist any efforts to
pull you out of the main queue and into a side room, as this is often an
attempt to get money.” Once through immigration she was met by a colleague
in a low-key, battered car, which she later realised was a useful measure to
deflect attention.
Other women travelling on their own to riskier cities, often find arrival in a
strange airport very stressful, particularly when they feel they have not
been well enough briefed.
Caroline McMurdo, a consultant, remembers arriving in Moscow airport, being
mobbed by potential drivers, to discover her promised named driver was
nowhere to be found and not answering his phone. “So despite everything I
had read saying this was a risky thing to do, I was forced to turn to a taxi
to take me into my city centre hotel. Luckily everything turned out OK.”
Another woman traveller recalls that a few years ago when she was visiting
Russia, she was not told that women drinking in bars, particularly up-market
hotel bars, were often prostitutes so wondered why she was encountering odd
looks from other drinkers, until she was briefed by a local colleague.
Julia, I agree I am stepping down after 10 years of travel.
There are some places that are very intimidating.
Mike, Sydney,
Shame this article focuses mainly on female travellers which distorts the very valid point you are making. Let's not make this seem to be a gender issue. I am a female business traveller of many years to risky parts of the world and know that the risk is equally as great for males.
Julia, London, England