Duty of Care and Travel Safety During COVID
If travel is an essential part of your business, adhering to safe travel precautions has become all the more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Every corporation has a legal responsibility when they send employees out for travel. The overarching duty of care is to maintain employee safety.
The Definition of Duty of Care
Duty of care represents the obligation of professionals such as corporate directors to act in a responsible manner. In most cases, there are three requirements in how business owners and directors must act:
- In good faith
- With the same care a reasonably prudent person would in the same situations
- In a manner that they believe to be their corporation’s best interests
The Duty of Care During COVID
Traditionally, corporate responsibilities with respect to travel involved being informed of national disasters, visa requirements, breaking news, etc. Due to the COVID pandemic, this responsibility has widened to include a thorough understanding of the following:
- COVID restrictions in a particular area
- Testing requirements
- Adequate infection control measures
- Preventative measures, such as personal protective equipment
- Access to urgent care in the area of travel
These factors can affect entire travel plans and have the ability to delay business decisions. Failing to consider these factors when planning for a business trip can cause unnecessary corporate travel spending and risk breaching a business owner’s duty of care.
Safety Measures for Travel
Because of the easy transmission rate of COVID, the CDC continually posts updates on how to travel responsibly. The following measures are supported by the CDC for travel.
Before Travel
- Check the current COVID-19 situation at your destination.
- Follow requirements at destination and of transportation operators, including vaccination proof, mask-wearing, testing, and quarantine.
- It is recommended to get tested within one to three days before your trip.
- Prepare a contingency plan as travel requirements are subject to change.
During Travel
- Wear a mask while indoors and on transport vehicles.
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
After Travel
- Get tested with a COVID-19 viral test three to five days after travel.
- Self-monitor for any symptoms. If you become symptomatic, isolate and get tested.
- Follow all state and local requirements after travel.
These measures are recommended for both domestic and international travel. If you are traveling outside of the country, you may be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test no more than one day before re-entering the U.S. Air passengers are also required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights into the U.S. This information is needed for contact tracing purposes should the need arise. It is important to note that these measures are subject to change.
Your Trusted Travel Partner
As stakeholders for your business, it is vital to stay current with travel restrictions and requirements to prevent any mishaps from occurring. Failing to adhere to certain requirements can breach the duty of care, delay trips, and waste time. At Rocketrip, we simplify travel logistics. We provide you with money-saving options and up-to-date COVID information to make your travel decisions easy. Contact us today for more information.
