How would you feel about your SO traveling to a potentially dangerous place on business? Place in question is in Mexico in the middle of all the drug cartel wars. He is not a fed, but fed workers are currently prohibited from traveling to the area for non-essential work.
If he goes, he will be traveling with two higher-ups (top of the house) and they will have a driver, but no security personnel. Higher-ups have traveled there multiple times with no issues. They arrive during the day, leave during the day, and don't go out at night.
Wwyd if your SO approached you about a potential work trip like this? Would you be comfortable with it?
Newp. I wouldn't be comfortable at all. Luckily DH's company, that has machines all over the world, halts travel to dangerous places at the drop of a hat.
We've had this hypothetical talk and DH has agreed that if there's any question at all, ah NOPE, he'll find a way out of it. I don't even like it when he goes to places just physically dangerous or out of the way like remote Aleutian Islands. He's high enough now that he can almost always duck out of things without much explanation though.
It wouldn't be standard in his industry to travel without security in a situation like that so I would not be happy about it. I'd want to know more about the area and how they were prepared.
In that case, we would probably be fine with it. I mean, maybe not thrilled, but comfortable/accepting.
We have family in Bogota, Colombia where travel was heavily warned against for years & years, but millions of people also go about their daily personal and professional lives there, so I never thought twice about visiting.
What precautions DOES his employer have in place for this location? At my former employer, they worked with an agency that specializes in travel to potentially dangerous areas.
Excellent question. I don't know but will have him ask.
Well the State Department seems to think if it's just in the city and just in the daytime it's okay:
Nuevo Leon: Monterrey is a major city/travel destination in Nuevo Leon – Exercise caution in the state of Nuevo Leon. Although the level of organized crime-related violence and general insecurity in Monterrey has decreased dramatically within the last two years, sporadic incidents of violence have occurred. Security services in and around Monterrey are robust and have proven responsive and effective in combating violent crimes; however, instances of violence remain a concern in the more remote regions of the state. U.S. government personnel and their dependents may travel outside the city of Monterrey only during daylight hours on toll roads, and must return to the city of San Pedro Garza Garcia municipal boundaries to abide by a curfew of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., except for travel to the airport after 5 a.m.
Anyway, I would probably be a little nervous, but not overly. THe gov travel warnings are pretty much in line with the traveling during the day but not at night. So I think I would feel comfortable.
Post by leonard131 on Jun 24, 2015 10:48:16 GMT -5
So I travel to these types of places and worse. I personally wouldn't have problem with Monterrey. I wouldn't go out at night. I would be sure I understand the safety protocol as it pertains to local transportation (what type of cabs to take or not take) if a car isn't provided and where are the safe places to go in town if I am going be out.
I know my H doesn't love it but doesn't say anything. To be honest I prefer traveling to the more "dangerous" places because the pick me up in an armor car and drop me in a secure compound. I actually don't like the travel where it is "some what" safe but not 100% and I have to more fend for my self.
SJ Bogota is one of my favorite cities. I love most of Colombia except maybe where the FARC hide out . I agree felt very safe there.
Well my DH is military so I have no say in where he goes and it's not usually safe places. But he's trained and armed.
I also wouldn't have a major issue with Monterrey. I think that's a pretty common place for American businesses to have plants and a lot of people travel down there. I don't think it's quite as dangerous as you are making it out to be. From my understanding of they two companies that I've worked for that have plants in Monterrey they usually have good security at the plant and also the hotel and employees are either at the plant or hotel and that's it.
I'd be nervous, but I wouldn't stop him. It would largely depend on his job and security measures. If he's going to do general business or medical/educational work, I'd be far less worried than if he's doing something related to security or government business or something that could be seen as a threat to the cartels.
My DH works for a very large corporation and they follow the U.S. State Department's guidelines for travel. They discontinue travel when a country gets put on the "not recommended" list. If travel is an absolute "must," it requires the signature of the CEO.
When travel to Mexico is allowed, employees are not allowed to drive themselves. They ALWAYS get a car and driver. the car is an armored sedan and the driver is a trained security agent. Are you sure the "driver" your DH's company is offering is not actually security?
My husband has to go there on a regular basis. I don't like it at all.
There's an armed guard in the transport van that takes them to the hotel. However, they stay in an area near the airport which he says is actually pretty nice. They haven't had any issues personally.
That said, I still don't like it, and expect him to check in with me regularly. Not like I can do anything, but to ease my mind.
Post by timorousbeastie on Jun 24, 2015 12:46:05 GMT -5
H went there for work a few years ago. He had a driver/security guard (complete with passwords to make sure the person was legit), plus they only went places (out to eat, etc.) with the local employees that he worked with via phone/email, which made him feel a bit more comfortable.
I don't think he'd like to return, and I definitely would prefer for my own comfort level that he didn't. I personally wouldn't be comfortable with frequent visits. (Although my opinion is based on conditions several years ago; maybe I'd be more ok with it if things have gotten better lately)
I had business contacts with people who worked in Monterrey a few years ago. They were more concerned about other areas than Monterrey (I can't remember the place, but it used to be a huge tourist area. Not Cancun!). I would not be terribly concerned if we were all accustomed to him traveling.
I do know my old company had some issues about who was listed as an authority to sign banking documents going to certain places or crossing the border at all, but as of about 2-3 years ago, they loosened up.
I mean, I wouldn't love it, but if appropriate security measures were taken it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. At least they are being upfront about this now!
DH may have to do this next year. I'm not happy about it, although I realize it is his job. From what I've been told thus far, they do take plenty of measures to keep his company's employees safe.
Edit: I'd be okay with Monterrey with precautions. DH is looking at needing to go to Dubai and Djibouti. Djibouti scares me. PDQ.
Post by Velar Fricative on Jun 24, 2015 13:47:24 GMT -5
I'd be slightly concerned, but Monterrey is a large city with a lot of foreign business travelers so unless I heard about a surge in attacks against foreigners coming in for business, I would be OK with it. I assume areas like the business district and by the airport have more security than elsewhere.
Post by humpforfree on Jun 24, 2015 14:00:55 GMT -5
He does a lot. He does military contract work and has to do testing. Of course, this means a lot of the dangerous travel is with military, so I feel better about it. That and the hazard pay + per diem he brings home..
I used to work with MENA accounts and the possibility always existed that I would have to travel. I felt pretty OK about it but it was prior to having kids and pre-ISIS. It would be a deal breaker now.
I would check into whether there were recent attacks against Americans there and if the company has any bad relations with the locals. If it's a day trip three times a year and there's a good chance nothing will happen, I'd be willing to talk salary.