Protecting Your People - An Insurance Guide
Effective crisis management depends on how well an organisation supports its people. In challenging moments, employees and leaders need clarity, reassurance, and confidence in the organisation’s ability to protect them. This includes setting clear expectations, communicating consistently, making leadership visible and providing targeted wellbeing support so that colleagues feel informed, safe and valued. It also means understanding the protections already in place, such as medical, life, travel and leadership cover, which provide an important safety net and help maintain a sense of stability when uncertainty is high. By managing people thoughtfully and ensuring they know they are supported, organisations can preserve trust, maintain cohesion and sustain performance throughout a crisis.
Medical insurance
Medical insurance can provide important support to employees during periods of instability by ensuring access to healthcare services and assistance when individuals are working or travelling in affected regions. While most local and international medical plans — and many business travel policies — do not typically include political evacuation coverage, insurers often partner with specialist security, evacuation, and assistance providers who can support organisations during emergencies.
These assistance services may help coordinate medical care, provide travel guidance, or facilitate evacuation support where available. Because coverage and assistance arrangements can vary significantly between programmes, organisations should review their policies carefully to understand what services may be accessible during a crisis.
Life insurance
Group life insurance policies can provide financial protection for employees' families in the event of death during employment. In some cases, policies may include provisions for passive war risk, which can extend cover where an employee is not directly participating in hostilities but is affected by a conflict-related event.
The availability and scope of such coverage vary by policy wording, and exclusions or limitations may apply depending on the circumstances of the event. Organisations should therefore review the specific terms and conditions of their group life policies to understand how coverage may respond during periods of geopolitical tension.
Corporate travel insurance
Corporate travel insurance is designed to support employees travelling for business by providing protection against a range of travel-related disruptions and emergencies. However, coverage in regions affected by conflict can vary depending on the destination, government travel advisories, and policy exclusions. Many travel policies exclude claims arising directly from war or active conflict zones, making it important to confirm coverage before employees travel to higher-risk locations.
While trip cancellations or disruptions may be covered for certain unforeseen events, cancellations resulting directly from war, military action, or government restrictions may fall outside standard policy coverage. Some policies may include emergency evacuation benefits, but these can also be limited where conflict is involved. In higher-risk environments, specialist security evacuation or political risk evacuation cover may be required to ensure adequate protection.
Directors and officers liability
Directors and officers’ (D&O) insurance protects senior leaders from personal liability arising from decisions made in their capacity as company directors or officers. During periods of geopolitical tension or conflict, boards may face increased scrutiny regarding how they manage emerging risks, oversee crisis response, and communicate potential impacts to shareholders and other stakeholders.
Claims may arise if stakeholders believe that leadership failed to respond appropriately to evolving risks, made inadequate disclosures, or did not implement effective governance measures during a crisis. While D&O policies are designed to protect directors and officers in these situations, some policies may include exclusions relating to war or terrorism. Boards should therefore review policy terms carefully and ensure governance and risk management processes remain robust during periods of heightened uncertainty.
© 2026 Lockton Companies. All rights reserved.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with questions regarding a mental health condition. Organisations should also refer to internal policies and professional support services where appropriate.