Flexible schedules save gas

It’s easy math to discern that driving to work 4 days a week instead of 5 will conserve fuel and save you a few bucks. It can be a lot harder trying to justify a change in work schedule with your manager…unless your employer is environmentally-conscious enough to offer you the opportunity or even an incentive to drive less.

Recently, UC announced that they are allowing full-time employees to work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days during the summer quarter in order to reduce the University’s impact on the environment. The flexible summer hours pilot project should reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption for commuting by 20%.

Could this be one of those business win-win situations? Save on facility costs by sending everyone home on a Friday and increase your retention rates by giving your employees a flexible work schedule option.

Other companies have offered subsidized bus passes for employees taking public transportation or preferential parking for car-poolers. Technology based companies in the area equip employees with a laptop so that they can work in a home office or co-locate all their interns or out of town visitors in one location so that they can use a shuttle bus to get to the office.

It’s smart to reward people for doing the right thing for the business and the right thing for the planet. Does your place of employment offer any environmentally-considerate employee perks?