The ballooning price of gas means that more than ever before employees are seeking ways to save on commuting costs. How can you help? Here, we offer some "dos & don'ts" for steering your employees toward ridesharing as a solution for those high prices at the pumps.
DO promote ridesharing as a way to use less gas. It may seem obvious to you, but some people simply don't make the connection. Let them know through emails, posters, flyers and other outreach that driving less is one of the easiest and most effective ways to cut the rising cost of commuting.
DON'T give employees time to adjust to higher gas prices. Right now, they're reeling from the shock of prices at the pumps, which makes it the ideal time to reach them with alternatives to driving alone. The more accustomed they get to shelling out more than $4 a gallon, the less likely they are to consider giving up the solo drive.
DO help them see how much they can save by ridesharing. One ETC makes it a point to remind employees that carpooling with just one other person can cut commute gas prices in half, describing it like "suddenly finding a station that sells gas for $2 a gallon." That really hits home! A great tool for showing the cash savings from carpooling is the Commute Cost Calculator at CommuteSmart.info
DON'T let money-savings be your only selling point. Yes, cost is a growing factor in how people choose to get to work, but make sure you continue to promote ridesharing's other benefits as well, such as saving time, reducing stress and contributing to cleaner air.
DO consider offering telecommuting or compressed work schedules so employees can drive in to the office less often. With gas prices at record-breaking levels, even if your management has turned down the idea before, they may be willing to reconsider offering these options, at least on an informal basis.
DON'T focus only on short-term strategies. It appears $4-plus gas prices are here to stay, at least for a year or so. According to the US Energy Department, we can expect the average price of gas in the US to peak this month, and then not go down much after that. Some companies are instituting "emergency" measures such as allowing employees to telecommute during summer months – which is terrific in the short-term to help employees cope – but keep in mind that they need ways to save on gas costs for the long-term, too.
DO contact the rideshare representative at your county's rideshare agency for more ideas. For contact information, see the Calendar section.
