Implementing a travel policy: Part 2

Following on from our previous article, the implementation of a new travel policy can be the hardest part of creating a new policy for travel.

By Steve Hall, director, Mint Business Travel

There are really two main aspects to the implementation of any policy but specifically a travel policy;

Communication – How do I communicate the policy effectively ensuring understanding? Compliance – how do we ensure that everyone uses the policy to ensure the aims are achieved?

Communication

There are many forms of communication that companies can use; web/ intranet pages, employee specific social media pages, email.

A few of the more successful launches I have seen are face to face and video launches.

These were training events covering off not only the points of the policy but also what responsibilities the traveller had within the policy and not to forget the risk management aspect too.

The key point is to make it visible to every person who may travel on business.

Compliance

Adherence to the policy is important if the aims of the policy are to be achieved. This may be cost control, safety of the traveller or their may even be a legal requirement that must be fulfilled.

Therefore the different points of the policy must be monitored, measured and then acted upon.

The policy shouldn’t be cast in stone; it needs to be constantly changed through feedback from travellers and from the environment in terms of risk levels. If you would like to know more about travel policies, risk management or duty of care when travellers please call or email us.