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GreenTips is a monthly Kiplinger Recommends feature from Greener World Media Inc., which writes environmental news and advice for business in a variety of Web-based publications, including GreenBiz.com, GreenerComputing, ClimateBiz and GreenerBuildings. This month's author is Tilde Herrera, an associate editor at GreenBiz.com.
Between high gasoline prices and traffic jams, there may be almost nothing better that employers can do to help their employees cope right now than to get them out of their cars -- or at least to stop driving alone. Doing so doesn't have to be painful, and commuting programs may save businesses money in the long run.
Morale can rise as parking costs go down. According to this month's GreenTips column from GreenBiz.com, "An internal survey at Sun Microsystems, for example, shows that workers gave 60% of the time they saved commuting back to the company. In gridlocked regions throughout the country, that could add up to an extra hour each day, per telecommuter." Retention rates also can rise -- no small thing for most companies these days, given that the cost of replacing a worker is said to be about 1.5 times a worker's annual salary.
There's a broad array of options for helping workers reduce their commuting times and costs. Some companies find four-day workweeks and telecommuting effective, although that's not a realistic option for businesses that must serve customers five or more days a week or where employees have to be physically present to do their jobs. "Pre-tax commuter benefits are popular, and can even save companies money. Employees can deduct up to $115 from their paychecks each month, before taxes, to cover the cost of transit or vanpooling," GreenBiz says. "This reduces payroll taxes for employers, and saves workers money." Many employers go further and subsidize commuter benefits -- and some even chip in for the cost of buying a bike that will be used for commuting.
POSTED BY: Steven Schoeffler (October 10, 2008 01:07 AM)
eRideShare.com, the leading carpool website, offers private self-service carpooling groups for employers, including Ford, Nissan, United Airlines, Lands' End, and many others (also for schools, clubs, sports leagues, religious institutions, conferences, and other groups). The interface is customized with the client logo and includes maps as well as listings.
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