As worker mobility rates increase, a growing spotlight on organisations' display of positive and healthy working environments, flexible hours, and exceptional benefits has created an influx of legal and reputational pressures. Employers' obligation to protect their workforce and provide decent workplace conditions while at home and away is also underpinned by growing risks from communicable diseases, civil unrest, anxiety, and burnout. Now more than ever, there is an opportunity for organisations to take charge of creating positive change for their people and the communities they impact.
By definition, Duty of Care is a legal obligation imposed on an organisation, requiring adherence to a standard of reasonable care while preventing any acts that could foreseeably harm others.
The world-first Duty of Care survey-based paper released by the International SOS Foundation, in partnership with KPMG and Herbert Smith Freehills, revealed that 61% of respondents expect their organisation's global activities to increase.
This new piece of research, released in 2025, covers, on a global scale, the opportunities and challenges for organisations to uphold their Duty of Care obligations, now and in future. The following article will explore some of the findings of this paper to help your organisation align with the growing need for sophisticated Duty of Care.
Emerging Risks to Your Travellers
Mental Health
The mental health of employee travellers represents a growing concern for organisations, with risks that can have profound implications. The unique pressures of business travel, such as isolation, the disruption of routines, and the challenge of balancing work with personal life, are some known triggers of mental health strain.
This awareness of mental health is already significant, with 70% of respondents indicating that mental health and wellbeing support is integrated into their overall Workplace Health & Safety Policies.
However, according to CIPD, less than half of organisations train their front-line managers to support staff with mental ill health. Organisations must turn their awareness of mental health support into support for employees to self-service and train managers to enable greater support for their teams.1
Pre-Travel Preparedness
Prevention plays a pivotal role in travel risk management. Information, advice, education, and training are critical in mitigating risks and avoiding medical and security incidents.
However, 10% of respondents do not know if or how they prepare employees before travel or believe they do not prepare employees at all.
This accentuates the need for organisations to regularly evaluate their travelling population, risk environments and related policies to ensure the correct level of preparedness is put in place.
Communication
Effective communication with employees during travel is critical to an organisation's Duty of Care. It is essential to establish clear and open communication channels to ensure that employees are well-informed about their destinations, aware of the resources available to them, and understand the procedures to follow in an emergency. Regular updates, check-ins, and access to 24/7 support can reassure and support travelling employees, helping them feel connected and secure. Moreover, in times of crisis, timely and accurate communication is vital to ascertain the safety of employees and coordinate an effective response. Organisations must prioritise communication as a key element of their travel policies to mitigate risks and fulfil their Duty of Care obligations.
Misinformation
The spread of false or misleading information can create unnecessary panic and disrupt travel plans, leading to poor decision-making and potentially endangering employee safety. Organisations must establish themselves as the single source of truth, providing accurate, timely, and verified updates. This involves monitoring for potential misinformation and equipping employees with the tools and knowledge to discern credible information. Organisations can maintain operational continuity by prioritising factual communication and ensuring that their employees make informed decisions based on reliable data.
Emerging Risks to Your Organisation
Legal Risks
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of employees during travel is not just a moral imperative but a legal one as well. Companies must diligently understand and comply with the various laws and regulations governing employee travel, domestically and internationally. This might include ensuring access to medical care and offering support in the event of political unrest or natural disasters. Failure to do so can result in significant legal repercussions, damage to reputation, and, most importantly, harm to employees. Organisations must regularly review and update their travel policies to reflect the latest legal requirements and best practices in risk management. By doing so, they protect their most asset—their people
Compliance
Compliance with Duty of Care is a critical component of organisational responsibility. Understanding and adhering to Duty of Care requirements is not only about legal conformity but also about safeguarding the integrity and trust of an organisation. It involves a comprehensive risk management approach, including establishing clear travel policies, training employees on safety protocols, and ensuring that all measures align with international standards and local regulations. Being compliant means being proactive in identifying potential risks and implementing preventative strategies. It also signifies a commitment to the continuous education of staff on their roles and responsibilities in upholding Duty of Care. Ultimately, compliance is about creating a culture of safety that permeates every level of an organisation, demonstrating to employees and stakeholders that their welfare is a top priority.
Data Privacy
In the realm of data privacy, compliance is not just a regulatory requirement; it's a cornerstone of consumer trust and corporate integrity. Organisations must be well-versed in data protection laws such as GDPR, CCPA, and other regional regulations. This involves implementing robust data management systems, ensuring encryption of sensitive information, and establishing clear protocols for data access and breach response. Compliance with data privacy means continuously monitoring and adapting to the evolving landscape of data security, providing transparency to users about how their data is used, and being accountable for any discrepancies.
Recommendations from our Experts
Our experts have highlighted several important recommendations to help guide stakeholders and organisations in safeguarding the health, security, legal, and tax risks that may impact their organisation in 2025 and beyond. Download the report below to uncover these world-first insights and recommendations.
How International SOS Can Help
In conclusion, as organisations navigate the complexities of Duty of Care, it is crucial to integrate comprehensive strategies that address emerging risks and ensure the wellbeing of their workforce. By leveraging our Travel Risk Management services, you can safeguard your employees against potential threats during their travels 24/7. Our Workforce Resilience programmes are designed to enhance the mental and physical health of your employees anytime, anywhere. Additionally, our global security and medical consulting services provide expert guidance to help you develop and implement robust policies that comply with legal requirements and best practices. Together, these services empower your organisation to create a safe, supportive, and resilient working environment, both at home and abroad.
The findings of the Duty of Care Paper 2.0 are based on 304 responses from 43 countries with stakeholders across 29 industries spanning Oil & Gas, NGO, Education, Commercial and Professional Services, and Banking and Financial Services. The expertise of our respondents included security, HSE, human resources, risk management, general management, operations, travel, and global mobility.