International business travel: employer responsibilities

Introduction

Guide

Your staff may need to travel to different countries to carry out tasks or meet new or existing customers and suppliers.

A business trip might span a couple of days or last for a week or more, yet regardless of duration, employers have a range of legal responsibilities when employees travel overseas on business. This guide highlights these employer responsibilities.

Types of business travel

Business travel includes activities such as:

  • travelling for business meetings, eg to negotiate with customers or suppliers
  • travelling to conferences or exhibitions
  • travelling for training courses
  • providing services (even with a charity)
  • touring art or music

There is also useful advice on the measures employers can take to ensure the health and safety of employees when travelling abroad for business purposes. This guide also outlines the extra requirements your staff will need to consider when travelling for business to Europe now that the UK has left the EU.