It may seem obvious, but it’s worth noting that not all commutes are created equal. Therefore, access to the workplace – especially as we come out of the pandemic and adjust to the newnormal of returning to the office – can be hard on both the financial and emotional well-beingof your team. But fear not! There are great solutions out there to help support your company’s return to the office activities. One of the biggest untapped resources are the collection of commuter benefits solutions available. Not only can these solutions make the return to the office a bit less painful for your team members, but it can actually help save both your employees and your organization money in the process!

Commuter benefits are programs that help employees offset the costs of commuting to work. These benefits can take the form of pre-tax deductions from an employee's paycheck, subsidies for using alternative active modes of transportation such as biking, and employer-provided shared transportation solutions like shared company shuttles, vanpooling or carpooling.

Why should you offer commuter benefits to your employees?

Reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality: Commuter benefits can help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the surrounding area.

Save money for employers: Employers can save money by offering commuter benefits to their employees.

Save money for employees: Commuter benefits can also help employees save money on their daily commuting costs, which can be a significant burden for employees.

Pre-tax deduction: This allows employees to set aside a certain amount of their salary before taxes are calculated, which can result in significant savings. For example, if an employee is in the 25% tax bracket and sets aside $100 per month for commuting costs, they would save $25 in taxes.

Employer-provided transportation: This can take the form of a company shuttle, vanpool, or even a subsidized ride-sharing service. Employer-provided transportation can be especially beneficial for employees who live far from the office or do not have access to reliable public transit.

In addition to these options, some employers also offer subsidies for employees who use alternative modes of transportation such as public transit, biking, or carpooling. For example, an employer might offer a subsidy for employees who purchase a public transit pass or reimburse employees for the cost of maintaining a bike for commuting purposes.

How to get started

Overall, commuter benefits are a great way for employers to support their employees as they begin to return to the office. Providing these types of programs also help to create a more environmentally friendly, cost-effective commuting ecosystem, making it a sustainably successful solution. By offering these benefits, employers can help reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and make it easier for their employees to get to back to the office with their colleagues. Back to where the magic happens!

If you’re interested in learning more, check out the variety of employee commuter benefits available on the flexigo platform, and reach out to explore how we can help you plan for and provide shared mobility solutions that reduce the financial, environmental, and emotional costs of commuting for your organization, your employees, and the communities in which you operate.

By Dave Gallon - Managing Director US, flexigo