Commuter Benefits

“We believe that our commuter benefits program is good for our business, good for the environment, and good for the employee.” — Ron Colman, Public Relations

Employers that offer commuter benefits enjoy a significant change to observed travel patterns (Transportation Research Board, 2017). Many of today’s workers are autonomous, deciding when and where to work. Competitive employers are taking responsibility for the commute, offering flexibility, incentives, facilities, and services. Traffic Solutions offers free assistance to Santa Barbara County employers ready to explore commuter benefits.

Sharpening Your Competitive Edge

An employer often determines if the commute is easy or difficult, inexpensive or costly, comfortable or frustrating. The jobs-housing imbalance in Santa Barbara County forces many employees to live and work in separate communities. Offering commuter benefits helps employers recruit and retain top talent by increasing the labor pool, easing the travel costs, and reducing commute stress. Likely, 30% of your employees will see no alternative to driving, but with a little effort and imagination, you can help the other 70% make choices that benefit them, your company, and our community.

A Customized Solution

Benchmark

It helps to look at what similar organizations in your area are doing. We can help connect you to businesses who have pioneered the way for growth, employee retention, fostering community, and corporate responsibility and sustainability. Check out the Local Profiles section of our site to peruse case studies and internal marketing collateral for companies that support commuter benefits.

Set Goals

The following goals are common employer starting points:

Increase corporate responsibility and sustainability
Improve employee morale and increase hiring power
Satisfy condition of use requirements and develop compliance documents
Receive Green Business Program certification
Reduce costly parking demand and neighborhood traffic impacts
Take advantage of IRS Commuter Benefits

Scale Appropriately

Small employers focused on tailoring options for each employee are often as effective as large employers with a large array of incentives and facilities. A small business delivering essential services might repurpose a closet space as secure bike parking, while a large employer might create a telework policy for administrative employees.

Establish Milestones

Developing any benefits program takes time. We recommend establishing milestones to celebrate each step taken to implement a successful program:

Survey your employees to understand commute challenges and what actions will most likely address those challenges.
Use survey data to communicate relevant transportation options.
Create a call-to-action campaign that encourages employees to take a baby step toward a new mode of transportation.
Reward employees that take action on a set campaign day.
Leverage lessons learned to establish an ongoing program, considering communication, incentives, facilities, flexibility, and annual campaigns.

The Benefits Portfolio

A benefits portfolio is typically designed to support your employees, whether they live 60 miles or a block away. The best package to offer depends on your employees’ unique needs. These benefits offered by other employers will help you get started:

Pre-tax, discount, or free transit fares (bus, train, and vanpool) – employees save money and employers reduce payroll taxes
Ability to telecommute (part-time or full-time)
Compressed work weeks (9/80, 4/10)
Flexible work start and end times (outside the rush hour)
Employee mapping for convenient carpool matching
Extra vacation time
Regular prize drawings and announcements
Surprise and delight days to reward employee mode behavior
Parking cash-out (choice of cash instead of free parking spot)
Earn-a-bike or scooter program
Cents-per-mile for carpool and vanpool commuters
Preferential carpool/vanpool parking
Quality bike racks
Secure bike parking (lockers, secured-access area)
Showers and employee lockers
Subsidy for non-motorized transport (walking shoes, bike maintenance, etc.)
Company shuttle between transit stops and the office
Company vehicles for carpools, midday errands, or emergency rides home
Company bikeshare for meetings and personal errands
On-site childcare
Bicycle education and skills class arranged for employees