Setting Up a Commuter Benefits Program for Your Organization
Posted on by Isabelle Brown
When considering employee benefits, organizational leadership and human resources teams have a lot to think about. How do we keep existing employees happy and offer benefits to attract potential team members?
A commuter benefits program can be a worthwhile addition to organizations of all sizes. When you’re looking to start a commuter program for your employees, there are a few things you should know first.
What are commuter benefits?
When an employee commutes to and from work, there are basic costs involved. These expenses look different for each commuter, but typically consist of:
- Gas, vehicle maintenance, and parking for drivers
- Fare costs for public transit riders
- Bike equipment and maintenance/repairs for cyclists
With expenses like these, commuter benefits are cash incentives that reward employees for choosing alternate forms of commuting. Through our easy commute program, for example, every day that employees don’t drive alone to work, they collect incentives selected by their employers.
Why should organizations offer commuter benefits?
Aside from being a worthwhile way to foster a great workplace culture, commuter benefits programs also reflect positively on companies that implement them. Prioritizing your employees’ commute and work-life balance does wonders to promote staff retention and attractiveness to future employees.
There is also a whole world of environmental benefits that employers can take pride in when implementing a commuter program. In recent years, we have witnessed a major shift into the importance of sustainability practices in the workplace. Transportation plays an enormous role in the carbon footprint of both individuals and the company as a whole. Having a solid plan to mitigate traffic congestion and single-occupancy vehicle usage reflects upon company values.
Are commuter benefits required?
Certain regions around the United States have requirements when it comes to air quality and environmental impact that a commuter program actively helps companies meet.
In our case, we work with organizations in California that must be aware of how their employees commute to and from work. Why? South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (AQMD) Rule 2202: On Road Vehicle Mitigation Options. The goal of this rule is to reduce the emissions generated by employee commutes to work during the peak window hours of 6am to 10am.
Through easy commute, we and our clients create commute reduction strategies to meet these Rule 2202 requirements put in place by AQMD. We do this by offering ridematching tools to help employees create carpools and vanpools, and continuous marketing and outreach to get coworkers to share the ride.
Analyzing your Workplace
Now that you know the basics of what commuter benefits are all about, here’s where you would start the initial planning to put a program in place:
Determine your company’s needs.
- Are you in an area with reliable and accessible public transportation?
- What is your employee parking situation?
- What kinds of hours do your employees work?
Survey your workforce.
- Are employees interested in carpooling or vanpooling?
- How far are your employees’ homes from the workplace?
- Do any employees already bike to work, drive an electric vehicle, or another form of alternate commuting?
- What types of incentives would motivate participation?
There is a lot of information that you’ll need to know to create an effective program, and surveys are a great way to collect data. Company surveys have been part of our methodology for many years and involve your workforce on the decisions behind their commuter benefits program.
Marketing Efforts
You don’t want your commute program to feel like your company’s best kept secret. Marketing your program will be vital in every step of the way: Creating excitement before the launch, gaining participants, and maintaining success.
easy commute provides customized branded marketing in the form of:
- Brochures and pamphlets
- Monthly email newsletters
- Posters and flyers
- Social media templates
- Email banners and templates
- And much more!
Tracking and Reporting
Once your program is up and running, the work has only just begun! Keeping up with your program’s performance, participation, and employee satisfaction is a continuous process. Having a dedicated transportation program coordinator along with our easy commute customer service team ensures that your program is consistently prioritized, running smoothly, and making the most impact possible.
Your commute program has the potential to yield incredible results for employee satisfaction and environmental impact. Reporting on environmental impact such as carbon dioxide reduction and vehicle miles savings is a great way to share your organization’s commitment to your employees’ work-life balance and reducing your collective carbon footprint.
Check out our multimedia e-magazine to see how our easy commute program has reduced over 700 million pounds of CO2 in its lifetime and more impressive statistics.
Let’s get moving – Together!
Moving people together within your organization is work to be proud of. A company-wide commuter benefits program sets you apart in your industry and demonstrates your loyalty to sustainability, employee rights, and a culture of equity and community.
Now that you know the general process of what goes into setting up a commute program for your organization, let’s get to work! Set up a free consultation with our team to see how you can best move your people together.