if you travel for work, have there been any changes to the policy re travel?

[JumpandScore]

Because of the attacks, restrictions and general nervousness across Europe?

We had several hundred people at an event in Madrid when they were attacked and although no-one from our company was hurt or even involved, we lost contact with them for a while and logistically it was a bit of a nightmare/not particularly well handled. Families contacting us because they couldn't contact loved ones either and we had nothing to tell them.

I don't know if we're particularly nervous because of that experience, or whether it would be right and proper to put some travel restrictions in place now. What are other companies doing?

Ultimately, it won't be my decision but I've been asked to contribute.

[lljkk]

Nothing, I was in Brussels a few days ago. Which felt very ordinary to me, btw. A colleague was in Paris during the attacks Friday 13th, she found out about the attacks from frantic texts from her family abroad. Came back on Eurostar early.

Wouldn't everyone have mobile phones now? Did even texts fail to get thru in Madrid? I can't imagine DH contacting my employer to try to find me. Other channels would be better.

[JumpandScore]

Yes, lljkk. If there was a major attack the mobile networks would either be closed so the emergency services could use the bandwith, or overloaded by all the people frantically trying to get in touch with loved ones.

Mobiles were no good to us in Madrid and they didn't work in London on 7/7 either.

[CMOTDibbler]

No, no changes (I was in Brussels this week too). We only have restrictions when the FO advise against travel which has caused issues over the years. I got into trouble for refusing to go to Columbia when the US weren't letting employees there go, so they were sending me. The hotel I was to be staying in got bombed that week.
I also got sent to Egypt the week the second gulf war kicked off - HR told me not to be so silly. I only went as it was a vv secure site and they had the capability to get me home whatever as flights were being cancelled extensively.

We do have to log all travel with our agents even if not booked with them so they know where we are, and they were pretty good at getting everyone home after 9/11 and the ashcloud. After 9/11 we did get some security training, but nothing since.

[sparechange]

We've just been told to allow extra time for increased security checks at airports.
Everything else remains the same...

[lljkk]

Maybe Nov 13th in Paris wasn't major enough attack to close down the mobile phone networks. Or the French aren't so organised. Coz colleague sent & received texts fine. I thought it was calls rather than texts or emails that got shut down.

We are technically supposed to be checked over in person before travelling outside Europe, get a fit to travel certificate. This tends to be mostly health but could also be security matters. There is no mechanism to Make us get that check over, though, we can just travel on own initiative.