Duty of care for employees abroad: a practical guide for SMEs

What does duty of care for employees abroad mean?

Duty of care for employees abroad is the idea that an employer should take reasonable steps to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the people it sends or employs outside their home country. It covers expatriates on assignment, local hires from overseas, remote workers based in another country and staff on business trips.

For large multinationals, this is often handled by a dedicated team. For a small or medium company, it can feel abstract until something happens: an employee is injured in a road accident, falls seriously ill in a country with limited healthcare, or is caught up in a natural disaster. At that moment, the questions are very practical. Who pays for the hospital? Can they be moved to a better facility? Who calls the family?

The exact legal obligations depend on the countries involved, on employment contracts and on local law. This article is not legal advice: for that, please consult a qualified lawyer. What we can share are the practical steps that help companies of any size look after their people abroad.

Which health risks should employers plan for?

The risks vary a lot from one destination to another, but most fall into a few groups:

• Access to quality care: in some countries, good private hospitals exist only in the main cities, and public care may be hard for foreigners to use.
• Cost of treatment: private hospitals can ask for payment or a deposit before treating a patient without insurance.
• Serious emergencies: accidents and sudden illnesses may require treatment that is not available locally.
• Infectious diseases: some regions have specific risks, and vaccinations or preventive measures may be recommended by health authorities.
• Mental health: isolation, stress and culture shock can affect anyone living far from home.
• Security and natural events: political unrest, extreme weather or earthquakes in certain areas.

A short risk review for each country where you have people is a good starting point. Official travel advice from government websites is a useful, regularly updated source.

How health insurance supports your duty of care

Insurance does not replace good management, but it is one of the most concrete ways to show that you have prepared. A suitable international health plan can provide:

• Access to private hospitals and specialists, in the employee's country of residence and, depending on the area of cover, elsewhere.
• Direct billing with network hospitals, so employees are not asked to pay large sums upfront. See our guide on direct billing vs reimbursement.
• Medical evacuation and repatriation, which can move a patient to a hospital able to treat them when local care is not adequate. Our guide to medical evacuation explains how it works.
• A 24/7 assistance line on many plans, to guide employees in an emergency.
• Cover for the family if dependants live abroad with the employee.

Benefits, limits and conditions always depend on the insurer and the plan, so check them carefully before choosing. Travel insurance alone is rarely enough for people who live abroad, because it is designed for short trips.

A simple duty of care checklist for SMEs

1. Know where your people are: keep an up-to-date list of who lives or travels where, with contact details.
2. Insure them properly: make sure everyone working abroad has health cover that works where they are, including evacuation.
3. Prepare an emergency sheet: insurer assistance number, policy number, nearest recommended hospitals, local emergency numbers, and an internal contact person.
4. Brief before departure: share health and safety information for the destination, and remind people how to use their insurance.
5. Agree a process: who in the company is contacted first, who informs the family, and who handles the insurer.
6. Check in regularly: wellbeing conversations help spot problems early, including stress and isolation.
7. Review once a year, for example at the renewal of your insurance plan.

Expats, business travellers and remote staff: different needs

Not everyone abroad faces the same situation, so it helps to think about each group separately.

• Expatriates and local hires from overseas live in the country full time, often with their family. They need year-round health cover where they live, including everyday care, not just emergencies.
• Business travellers spend short periods abroad. Their main risks are accidents and sudden illness on the road, so emergency care and assistance are the priority.
• Remote employees based in another country may be far from any company office, which makes clear contacts and regular check-ins even more important. Our guide on health insurance for remote and nomad teams covers their specific situation.

Matching the cover to each profile avoids two common mistakes: paying for benefits people will never use, and leaving gaps where they are most exposed.

When things go wrong: what good support looks like

Imagine an employee based in Southeast Asia has a serious motorbike accident. With the right preparation, the sequence is calm and clear. The employee, or someone with them, calls the insurer's assistance line. The insurer helps identify a suitable hospital and, where direct billing is in place, arranges a guarantee of payment. If the injury needs treatment that is not available locally, the medical team can organise an evacuation, subject to the plan's terms. Meanwhile, a manager at the company is informed, keeps in touch with the family and adjusts the workload.

Without preparation, the same situation can mean a large deposit at the hospital, uncertainty about who pays, and precious hours lost. The difference is rarely about money alone; it is about having the right cover and a plan that everyone knows.

Putting duty of care into practice with the right partner

Be Protected Abroad is an independent advisor, not an insurer. We compare plans from 20+ international insurers and help companies choose cover that matches where their people live and travel. Our advice is free, and we stay by your side after the plan starts, including when an employee needs help with a claim. Learn more on our Company & SME insurance page.

If you have people abroad and want to make sure they are properly covered, talk to one of our advisors. We will review your situation and prepare a tailor-made proposal.

Useful resource: International Labour Organization: safety and health at work