LGBTQ+ employees lack resources, support when travelling – report

Many organisations do not offer safety resources specific to LGBTQ+ staff for work travel, according to World Travel Protection (WTP), part of Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich).

The survey of 500 Australian business travellers, conducted by Opinium and commissioned by WTP, found that only 9% of employees are offered information on LGBTQ+ rights before visiting a country if they have disclosed that they are part of the LGBTQ+ community. The number is even lower for employees who did not disclose their sexuality (8%).

Nearly a quarter (22%) of the respondents said their employer does not offer any information before a work trip, while 39% felt that their employer could do more to keep them safe.

“Although civil rights have progressed in the past decades, LGBTQ+ people across the world continue to experience discrimination and enhanced security risks,” said Paul Trotter, security and intelligence lead at WTP. “This includes being discriminated against for simply living as themselves or experiencing a lower standard of legal and societal protection than they would normally have at home. When it comes to travel, many LGBTQ+ travellers are burdened with the responsibility of researching the legal system and cultural attitudes of their destination.”

Other findings

The survey also found that only 14% of employees are provided with a travel risk app containing live destination alerts and location notifications during emergencies.

“Simple, yet potentially life-saving initiatives like a Travel Assist app that is installed prior to departure and provides live security alerts, 24-hour emergency medical assistance, and detailed country reports now serve as a business travel necessity,” Trotter said. “As a travel risk-management company, we also play a critical part in educating businesses on mitigating exposure to inherent risks associated with travelling abroad, for all staff.”

Calls on employers to improve LGBTQ+ support

Considering the results of the survey, WTP called on employers to empower their staff with the education and resources they require before leaving the country.

“Organisations, no matter the size, have a duty of care to ensure their staff are well-prepared and feel supported to take on new challenges in their career, and that includes travelling abroad,” Trotter said.