Daily
office commute has become a worldwide problem. While technology has
brought the world closer, people still find it a challenge to travel
to and from work on an everyday basis. Crowded buses, suffocating
compartments, sweaty weather and a slow to almost never moving
traffic! Snaking your way through all these and still reaching fresh
and cheerful to office is a taxing task. In addition, it is very
difficult to almost immediately start working upon reaching office
after a hectic travel. This is one of the reasons companies have
started adopting dedicated shuttle services for their employees.
Providing
shuttle services have some very practical benefits. Typically, they
start from easy to access landmarks like bus stops where employees
are likely to gather for pickup. Employees are picked up from the
specified landmark and dropped back after work at the same place.
This is a convenient option for the employees as it eases out the
stress on them. Providing shuttle services is now a widely accepted
phenomenon since both employees and employers alike see the benefits
in this. The environmental benefits are very obvious- lesser cars
burning fuel, space availability in parking lots, lesser crowding on
the streets. Studies show that ailments like high blood pressure,
cholesterol, anxiety, and depression are associated with driving
through the traffic day in and day out.
Reason#1: Employee Well-Being and Productivity
Most
shuttles pick and drop employees outside major bus depots, metros,
etc. There are also some shuttle services that even pick-up and drop
employees right at their doorstep. Providing such a shuttle reduces
the employee’s traveling stress to a great extent. They are spared
from driving through the traffic, missing work and health claims and
getting delayed for office due to unexpected traffic snarls. Shuttles
also provide employees with the opportunity to prepare themselves for
the day ahead at the office. They get a chance to relax, check their
e-mails, plan the day ahead, catch up on the news and rest for a
while. This preparatory stage will help them transition to the work
mode much faster once at the office which may not be so otherwise.
Reason #2: Punctuality
Often,
owing to the peak hour traffic, people get delayed to the office. In
addition, driving through the jams, waiting at signals can drive you
really crazy at times. Getting delayed at traffic junctions and
missing and reaching late to office affects the work schedules and
deadlines. Shuttles spare the employees from driving in traffic and
make productive use of their time. Needless to say, employees using
shuttle service find it easier to reach their workplace in time. This
increases the enthusiasm to work among employees. There is an
increased energy within the team and a well-connected sense of
teamwork.
Reason #3: Cost Savings
Commuters
spend a good part of their income commuting to their workplace and
back. On an average, they spend 20% of their income and at least
two hours a day in commuting. Providing shuttle services would reduce
the cost and make the employee transportation
management experience better. Shuttles are less expensive
alternatives- while they have the ability to extend mileage. For the
employer, it is less expensive than cab alternates and
reimbursements. In addition, the parking space rent gets reduced. It
is the employer who pays for the parking facility used by the
employees at the office. Providing shuttles simply mean lesser
employee vehicles and hence reduced parking rents.
Read
more on Employee
Shuttle Service App
