Computers are now playing chess and Go at the grand-master level, and can play a pretty mean game of Jeopardy as well. Does this mean that the human brain has been out-matched for good? Should we welcome our new computer overlords? Despite the hype, this is hardly the case, and little reason to worry about the impending obsolescence of human beings as a species, displaced by intelligent machines. [Read more…] about Employee Monitoring Can Be Automated, But for Employee Assistance Best To Bring Humans Into the Loop
Employee Security
If you are planning a trip overseas this summer, chances are you are somewhat concerned about two big security threats: 1) the threat of terrorist attacks such a we witness in Paris and Brussels, and/or 2) the threat of medical problems such as the Zika virus outbreak in South America. Whether you are a business traveler or simply a tourist, it pays to be prepared. While there are many concrete things you can and should do, this blog post will focus on the information aspects. Here are some pointers in terms of staying informed about travel security risks on a global level.
- Educate yourself about the countries you will visit. We live in the Internet age, and it can be as simple as a Google search and a Wikipedia read to get basic information on a country. Many Muslim countries, for example, have dress and clothing customs which can seem strange to a Westerner. Not being properly dressed in these countries can not only provoke some hostility but could also make one easier to “spot” as a target. Being culturally sensitive is always good advice.
Photo credit: Kurt:S via Foter.com / CC BY - Buy some key travel books. Similarly, if you are going for a longer visit, consider purchasing in-depth travel guides. Publishers such as Fodors and Lonely Planet publish in-depth guides that explain many tourist features but also have information such as emergency contact numbers and procedures. With Amazon’s Kindle, you can even get these in digital format for your Kindle device or by downloading the Kindle App for iPhone or Android, you can have them on your smartphone.
- Subscribe to information updates. Click up to our home page, and subscribe to the IMG GlobalSecur service. These updates will keep you up-to-date on security warnings worldwide. Similarly, visit the Department of State website and sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
- Read the news. In between Google news and the obvious sources of information such as the New York Times, begin to read BEFORE you go abroad.
- Sign up for Google Alerts. Google’s free alerts can be set up by keyword (country name) and are another way to stay informed about a country.
Have Fun
These are just five key pointers to help you with travel security updates. Oh, and here’s a sixth one: have fun! Despite the fact that international travel, for both business and pleasure, can seem scary, remember that in point of fact you are much more likely to be hit by a car or mugged than you are to die in a terrorist attack or from some strange virus. These things can happen in Toledo, Ohio, just as easily as they can happen in Caracas, Venezuela. So being safe is just a habit of modern life. That said, going abroad is an amazing opportunity to see the world, experience new cultures, and meet new people. Enjoy yourself!
In a business journal you may read statistics about “global travel” rising or falling. A trade publication for the airline, ocean cruise or hospitality industries might speak of “overseas travel.” The U.S. State Department couches its press releases in phrases like “international travel.” [Read more…] about Employee Travel Safety Needs Remain the Same No Matter the Description
Los Angeles, California – February 29, 2016. IMG GlobalSecur, a leading global security consulting firm, is proud to announce an important post to its customer-facing blog on the issue of overseas employee monitoring. The IMG GlobalSecur blog is meant to explain employee security issues and monitoring opportunities in a straightforward manner, suitable for busy human resources managers or senior executives who manage an employee workforce abroad. [Read more…] about Overseas Employee Monitoring Featured in New Post, Announces IMG Group
There are different possible definitions of travel abroad security: medical emergency security, safety from terrorist threats, executive travel security, or even just the peace-of-mind that derives from help is near at hand should something go wrong. In a perfect world all of these could be comprehensively dealt with at once, but realistically the costs could be prohibitive. Unless you are a head-of-state, there is a need to prioritize the risks that most concern you and your organization, and plan accordingly.
Travel Abroad Security: Define Your Goals, Devise a Strategy
The first step in devising a travel abroad security strategy that can be successfully implemented within budgetary constraints is to define your goals. This is done by evaluating the importance of each type of risk you think will be faced. This may require evaluating some difficult questions regarding degree of possible harm an individual may face. In most locations “active shooter” events are extremely rare, even less than they might be back at home (though very high-profile). On the other hand, medical emergencies are just as likely as they would be back home. Which of these two is then your priority?
In terms of employee travel security, here are some important things to think about. First, how many of your employees actually travel abroad? You might have just one or two key executives, or you might have literally hundreds of employees in tens of countries across the world. The quantity makes a difference because, of course, it is more difficult to track a large number of people, and keep them secure and informed, then it is to track a small number of people. Second, which countries are your employees deployed to? It makes a difference, of course, whether these employees are deployed into relatively secure countries like Germany or France, or countries which unfortunately have a more complicated security situation, such as Turkey, Afghanistan, or Guatemala. Now, that is not to say, that only countries in the developing world faced security challenges! As recent events in France have shown, even countries in Western Europe can face significant security challenges, and these challenges can impact your employees. Third, what are the priorities not only of your organization but of the employees themselves? In some situations, such as that of United States defense contractors, the organization itself has to have a very secure profile. Whereas in others, such as a small business, or perhaps a consumer oriented company, the security situation is not as complicated from the perspective of the organization. Next, seen from the perspective of the employees themselves, some employees may be participatory in monitoring systems, whereas in other organizations the employees are more willing to take the risks on themselves.
Travel abroad security, of course, is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Interested parties are encouraged to reach out to speak with one of our security consultants, to discuss the best security situation for them and their company.
The best way to learn more about travel abroad security, balancing risks and rewards, is to reach out to us and have one of our friendly staff conduct an employee overseas monitoring audit and demo the available software.