Rescue from a kidnapping: a checklist

Kidnapping always makes interesting news. Having just returned from an international business trip, the article “What Companies Should Do if an Employee Is Kidnapped” in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal caught my attention.

The author, Nicholas Elliott, provides a checklist for countries where kidnappings are common:

  • Don’t call the local cops, they are probably crooked
  • Get a local employee to negotiate, that will reduce the price
  • Keep the victim’s family informed.

I would add a first step, call someone who knows what to do. We have worked with the Guidry Group and recommend them. Rescuing a kidnapped an employee is not a situation that works well for inexperienced folks.

PS: My recent trip was to Canada, no kidnapping concerns there.