DUTY-OF-CARE
Workplace Equality Index for the past two years and this culture of inclusiveness is reflected in the way it manages travel. Rosie Mohammad, Pinsent Masons’ head
of travel, says: “We are respectful of local laws and customs but we are also com- mitted to upholding our values and doing business responsibly wherever we work. Our first priority is the safety of our staff; we recognise the need to ensure people who identify as LGBT are aware of the risks and the legal and cultural differences, and are sufficiently prepared before undertaking international secondments.” The firm has also created diversity
network groups where experienced trav- ellers can give “confidential support and guidance” to employees who have concerns about travelling to particular countries or regions. “Within the LGBT network, we have created a contact list of people along with the countries they have worked in to make it easier to access support and expertise quickly,” explains Mohammad. Pinsent Masons is also keen to ensure
that the careers of LGBT employees are not adversely affected if they turn down a travel- ling opportunity for personal reasons. Kate Fergusson, the firm’s head of responsible business, adds: “Our policy is very clear that people will not be disadvantaged if they turn down an opportunity for international
travel because of, for example, their sexual orientation and gender identity.” Having employee networks groups is
crucial to successfully dealing with issues that LGBT travellers can face on the road, agrees International SOS’s Weisbrod, who adds that organisations also need to “respect confidentiality and allow for anonymity” of employees who do not want to disclose personal issues. “Employee resource groups, such as an
LGBT internal advocacy and support group, help staff find support, information and assessment before taking overseas work and travel assignments,” she says.
CHANGING ATTITUDES One of the challenges of dealing with these issues is that laws (and whether they are ac- tually enforced, or not, in certain countries) can change in some destinations – often for the better but sometimes for the worse. This means that buyers and HR departments have to work closely together to ensure advice is kept up to date. Social attitudes can often be slower to change in a country, regardless of the legal landscape, which travellers need to be aware of, as well. There can also be regional differences
within some countries between a major city and a more socially conservative rural area where what is socially acceptable varies
“The landscape for the global LGBT population is in
constant flux, and making sure that
there are people or organisations that companies know and trust to serve as
advisers is a practical and effective step” Jean-Marie Navetta, PFLAG
Digital due
diligence One area that can be potentially tricky for business travellers is personal social media activity – particularly if the LGBT traveller is very open about their sexuality or even expresses strong views about these issues on platforms such as Twitter or Facebook.
“Be highly cautious about social media use and the content on digital devices that may be scanned or reviewed,” advises Jean-Marie
Navetta of US-based LGBT network PFLAG National. When travelling to non-LGBT friendly destinations, travel safety firm BeTravelwise advises that travellers should “keep a low profile so as not to draw attention to themselves”. It also recommends they should make sure their social media profiles are set to “private”, while also considering whether to hide or delete certain lifestyle and dating apps on mobile devices before they arrive in their destination.
70 BBT May/June 2018
enormously. For example, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued warnings in 2016 for LGBT travellers to be careful in two US states – North Carolina and Mississippi – due to the passing of legislation in those states. The FCO has a dedicated section for LGBT
travellers giving general advice about what precautions to take when on the road in less LGBT-tolerant destinations, alongside specif- ic country advice. The FCO and the Passport Office also offer guidance for transgender travellers who “sometimes face difficulties or delays at border controls overseas if they present as a different gender to what is stated in their passport”. There are plenty of other external resourc-
es provided by LGBT groups such as ILGA, International Gay and Lesbian Travel As- sociation (IGLTA), human rights campaign
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