It’s not always good for business class travelers because of the discrimination they face from other people.
A recent survey commissioned by security firm World Travel Protection revealed startling findings: 57% of UK business travelers have witnessed or faced “negative behaviors” while on international assignments.
Disturbingly, 20% reported experiencing or observing discrimination based on race or gender. Women, alarmingly, were twice as likely (31%) as men (16%) to report such encounters.
According to a Business Travel News Europe report, the study highlighted another concern: 14% of these travelers felt compelled to conceal their sexuality or saw colleagues doing the same.
A significant 10% refused or knew of someone who refused to journey to countries with anti-LGBTQ+ regulations.
“Witnessing incidences of prejudice and abuse are still too prevalent for business travelers, and when you’re in a different country with a different culture it can be difficult to know how to respond in order not to put yourself or your traveling party at risk,” said Kate Fitzpatrick, regional security director, EMEA, at World Travel Protection, per the report.
“This research shows the importance of not only educating your teams about the potential geopolitical situation of the destination they’re visiting, but also the local social norms and cultural sensitivities to ensure that – as far as possible – respect and tolerance are top of the agenda on all sides,” he added.
World Travel Protection accentuates the importance of comprehending the risk profiles of traveling members, which should encompass travel history, previous roles, pre-existing health conditions, and aspects like gender, race, ethnicity, and physical and mental health.
