go-info

Rejuvenate Your Plan

Another great way to keep informed of best practices is through the Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT). Become a member. Visit http://www.actweb.org.

Revitalize your commuter benefits program

If your program has reached a plateau or become stale and ineffective, it is time to try some new approaches and techniques to raise awareness and participation. Try the follow action steps to make certain you are working toward desired employee benefits and increased participation.

Contact your Employer Outreach Coordinator

If you’d like free assistance, schedule a consultation to discuss your experience and ideas.

Review or Retake the Employee Commuting Survey results

Have another look to see what commute modes employees are considering and determine if you’re meeting their request for information for carpooling, vanpooling, taking the bus, riding a bike, telecommuting or walking to work. If your company, the economy, or gas prices have changed significantly since your last survey, consider participating in the next survey session so you can see major changes in employees’ responses and preferences. The survey is administered twice annually in fall and late winter.

Remove Barriers

Most employees don’t try a new commute option for fear that they will need their car during the day. Sign up as a participating employer in the Free Emergency Ride Home program so your employees can receive up to 6 free rides home annually if the employee has a family emergency, becomes sick at work, or has to work unscheduled overtime.

Focus and Promote

Prevent employees from feeling overwhelmed by limiting the information and changes to what information they are interested in and need. Use the survey to find the preferred method of commute and promote that option and the Free Emergency Ride Home program. Employees that take the Employee Commuting Survey will even have the option to request a customized commute profile that is based strictly on the information they provide. It’s like removing the commercials and interference so you have a direct connection.

Encourage From the Top

Increase employee participation with these Tools & Resources, and get managers to champion the cause. Have managers challenge each other to see who can have the greatest participation in miles traveled, tonnes of CO2 (carbon footprint) saved, or fuel savings in miles and dollars! Make it fun, and keep it simple. Utilize your Employer Outreach Coordinator to the fullest, so there is little work for you! EOCs can provide brochures, posters, and pre-written emails and newsletter articles to publicize your programming, and even help with an on-site event with prizes.

Reward Participation

Rewarding employees can be creative and cost-effective. If you have carpools or vanpools, provide preferential parking near the entrance. If you have transit riders, consider flexible scheduling to allow for a shift in the working start and end time or during the lunch hour to provide better access to bus schedules. If employees currently pay for parking, allow them to redirect that money to pay for bus passes, cycling or pedestrian supplies, or vanpool fare – and this can even be done tax-free!

Level the Playing Field

If your employees who drive alone receive free parking, consider offering an equivalently valued benefit for transit riders, cyclists, and carpool or vanpool riders. These “hidden” financial incentives for driving and parking are often important barriers to changing employees’ commuting behavior. Employees who are offered commuter benefits are up to 15% more likely to try a commute alternative. You can also find out what others in your field are already offering their employees.