Pain at the pump and metro Atlanta traffic are causing everyone to look for better commuting alternatives these days.
“The rising cost of gas has been a catalyst to get more people to pick up the phone to see how we can help,” said Brian Carr, director of communications for the Clean Air Campaign, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cleaner air for the region.
About 1,600 businesses and companies have partnered with the organization to promote better commuting practices, which results in cleaner air.
“All employers have the common issue of needing and wanting their employees to show up on time to work and to be free of anxiety so that they can put in a productive day," Carr said. "With everyone fighting for space on Atlanta roads, and the average round trip to work taking 60 minutes, the commute has become a productivity issue for many employers.”
Traffic congestion costs metro Atlanta employers a combined $2.7 billion in lost productivity a year, according to an urban mobility study conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute in 2010.
The Clean Air Campaign offers free consulting services to help companies with transportation issues. It also offers incentives to individuals willing to switch to mass transit, car or van pooling, biking or walking. It helps companies arrange shared transportation programs and take advantage of commuter choice tax benefits offered by the federal government (Section 132-F of the federal tax code).
Individuals can earn $3 a trip (up to $100) from the Clean Air Campaign for ditching the solo drive and taking mass transit, walking, biking or carpooling to work.
“Even after the cash incentive runs out, our research shows that 18 to 24 months later, participants are still using the new solutions, because it saves money and is less stressful,” said Carr. “We hear some interesting stories. One participant studied for his MBA while riding the bus; another wrote a screenplay on the MARTA train.”
Carr sees a growing consciousness among regional companies for taking an active role in improving the environment -- from upgrading their facilities to encouraging better commuting practices. As a result, Atlanta’s air quality has improved. He’s also seen a more progressive attitude about flexible work schedules and telecommuting. The Clean Air Campaign offers consulting services and training for teleworkers and telemanagers, and it can help companies set up pilot teleworking programs.
“In a flagging economy when companies can’t increase salaries, more employers need to think outside the box to create meaningful ways to help employees save money,” said Carr.
Transportation benefits also can be a win for employers. “Georgia-Pacific was out of parking space in its Cobb County facility,” he said. “The company encouraged more people to carpool, and it saved them $100,000 by not having to build a new parking lot.”
The Midtown law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan joined the transportation campaign early. By partnering with Midtown Transportation Solutions (MTS) and the Clean Air Campaign, the firm began a commute alternatives program in 1999.
“We just held an ice cream social for our employees to remind them of all their commuting alternatives. Members of Midtown Transportation Solutions came to speak,” said Marie Bartliff, benefits manager at Sutherland Asbill & Brennan.
The company offers up to $100 a month in firm-paid transit benefits to non-attorney employees, with up to an additional $130 a month in pretax benefits. Attorneys are eligible for up to $230 a month in pretax transit benefits. The firm distributes the fare for mass transit and van pools on site for added convenience.
“We have worked closely with MTS to coordinate van pools and car pools between workers in nearby companies,” said Bartliff. “We also have bike racks and onsite shower facilities for bikers and walkers,” she said.
Bartliff has been working part time and telecommuting from home one day a week since 1998. “Other employees work a compressed workweek or flexible hours to avoid peak traffic times,” she said. “These are great benefits, and our employees appreciate them. They say it saves them money and reduces stress. Instead of sitting in traffic, they can be riding and listening to their iPods or reading.
“We think it increases productivity, and we feel like we’re doing our part for sustainability of the environment. About 30 percent of our 400 Midtown employees participate.”
Insperity, a business performance and solutions company offering customized human resource and other services, helps clients form policies that address today’s transportation challenges.
“Gas is about a dollar more [per gallon] than it was last year. The rising costs and traffic congestion are a huge concern with employees and employers these days,” said Margaret Hintz, manager of human resource services in the Kennesaw office.
Telecommuting is a growing practice, as more companies have virtual teams and can make use of Web-based and teleconferencing technology, she said. Post-recession, companies are searching for ways to engage their employees. “Telecommuting, flexible schedules or assistance with using mass transit or setting up car pools can give a company a competitive edge. It can help them attract and retain good talent.”
Workers appreciate benefits that help them save money and give them more control over their lives. “Good transportation policies can boost retention, increase job satisfaction, improve productivity and decrease absenteeism,” said Hintz. “Work/life balance is a huge draw for the next generation of workers.”
Not every business can adapt to telecommuting, flexible hours or a four-day week, however.
“We help a company consider its goals and business objectives to see what commuting alternatives might work. What type of workers could work from home? Is the technology in place to make it work?” said Hintz. “We can help them write the policies and put the quality and quantity measures in place to assess whether a program is a success. When it makes sense for the business and benefits the employees, it’s a win-win for everyone.”
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