The Issues:
Studies have linked commute-related stress to increased physical and mental disorders, higher usage of health insurance, and other problems that negatively affect business performance.- Traffic congestion is causing longer commutes each year. Long or congested commutes take a daily toll in stress.
- Traffic congestion causes daily delays in commuting, often causing commuters to be late for work.
- If a worker earning $30,000 per year is fifteen minutes tardy two days per week, the annual cost to the company for time lost is $375.
- Commuters with more stressful commutes are observed to need more "unwinding" time and take longer to get down to productive work than those with less stressful commutes.
- If a worker earning $30,000 per year takes 15 minutes each day to get settled into working because of a stressful trip to work, the annual cost to the company for time lost is $937.
The Solution:
Less stressful commute options can make employees happier, healthier, and more productive. And the best way to encourage your employees to utilize commuting options is by offering commuter benefits. These highly valued benefits not only increase morale and productivity, they also show your employees that you value them as an employee and care about their well-being.
Listed below are just a few of the commuter benefits you can offer to help improve your employees' productivity and morale:
- Design a formal or informal telework program. Employees can avoid stressful commutes by working from the comfort of their home or from a nearby telework center.
- Implement a bicycling or walking program. Employees who walk or bike to work arrive less stressed and more alert than those who drive alone, and employees who exercise regularly have lower health care costs and less absenteeism.
- Provide an alternative work schedule. Employees have greater flexibility in planning personal and medical appointments and therefore use less leave time.