Get Recognized as a "Best Workplace for Commuters"!
by Lily Lowder
March 15, 2021
The Alamo Area MPO has been recognized as a Best Workplace for Commuters for the second year in a row. Source: AAMPO
Picture this: You ride into work and store your bicycle in a personal bicycle locker indoors, then freshen up with a shower before work. Your other colleagues carpool edand, after parking in a reserved spot, they walk in smiling, continuing their chat about the work day ahead. Somewhere at home, your boss cradles their cup of coffee in hand and cat on lap before powering up their computer.
From bicycles to carpools to telecommutes, the modern and employee-driven workplace supports their staff at every level of their workplace experience -including their commute. Commute-friendly workplaces are better suited to recruit and retain top talent.
Join other top employers in becoming recognized as a Best Workplace for Commuters, administered by the National Center for Transit Research.
What is Best Workplaces for Commuters?
Best Workplaces for Commuters (BWC) is an innovative membership program that provides qualified employers with national recognition and an elite designation for offering outstanding commuter benefits, such as free or low cost bus passes and vanpool fares and strong telework programs. In 2021, more than 450 employers across the nation received their BWC designation.
To determine levels of eligibility for participating in the program, employers complete the BWC application. As part of the application, employers agree to several items, including ensuring a minimum level of employee participation, designating a central point of contact for employee questions, providing an Emergency Ride Home for participating employees, and offering a choice of Commuter Benefits.
The application for the 2021 class of winners is currently closed, but the 2022 application is expected to open in June.
What are the benefits of being a BWC?
One of the most tangible advantages of being a commute-friendly workplace isthe ability to promote a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to prospective employees.
A survey by Robert Half, a human resources consulting firm, identified the unexpected culprit – painful commutes. 23% of workers in the United States have quit their jobs because of a bad commute. Age is a significant factor as well. Over one-third (34%) of employees between the ages of 18 and 34 have left a job because of a difficult commute.
"In today's candidate-driven market, skilled workers can have multiple offers on the table. Professionals may not need to put up with a lengthy or stressful trip to the office if there are better options available." - Paul McDonald, Senior Executive Director at Robert Half
Compared to the high cost of other employee benefits, commuter benefits are a cost-effective way for employers to recruit and retain top talent.
How can Alamo Commutes help?
If your business or organization would like to learn more about commuter benefits, schedule a consultation with Alamo Commutes. Not only are our consultations free - so are all of our services! We can help:
- Create, distribute, and analyze the results of an employee commute survey
- Host employee information sessions on commuting options, including bicycle safety classes (including a free bicycle helmet and bike light set!)
- Conduct site visits to determine the walkability, bikeability and transit access of your workplace
- Provide referrals to partners such as VIA Metropolitan Transit and San Antonio Bike Share
- Provide recommendations and guidance on workplace policies related to telework, flexible scheduling and more
Whether you need assistance with one issue - such as installing a new bike rack or formalizing your telework policy - or you're looking to overhaul or introduce a comprehensive commuter benefits program, Alamo Commutes customized solutions can meet your needs. Email Lily Lowder, Commute Solutions Planner, at lowder@alamoareampo.org for more information.