Building an environmentally sustainable workplace requires a team effort that begins at the management level.Companies across a full spectrum of industries have made encouraging commitments to address the environmental impacts of their activities. This cultural shift has thrust sustainable workplace practices into the spotlight.Â
Employers in both the public and private sectors are increasingly adopting sustainability mandates. While the trend holds great potential, its ultimate success depends on large-scale employee engagement and buy-in. Achieving this depends on strong support at the leadership level.
The good news is that organizations can draw on a multifaceted set of tools for encouraging sustainable employee behavior. With respect to commuting, sustainable workplace practices focus in large measure on shifting employees away from single-occupancy vehicles in favor of smarter alternatives.
Incentives are proven to work
A large majority of people broadly agree with the underlying objectives of sustainable workplace practices. We all want to live in a cleaner, greener world, and we all want to feel like we’re playing an important role in building that world. However, when it comes to changing established behaviors in support of those goals, people often need a gentle nudge in the right direction.
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Incentive programs are excellent tools for delivering that all-important nudge. These programs engage digital logging tools for tracking sustainable commutes, and use a variety of models to reward the people who make them. Major examples include:
- Points programs. Allow commuters to earn points for choosing sustainable modes of transportation, which they can then redeem for enticing prizes.
- Social incentives. Use friendly competitions and challenges to add a social dimension to your commuter programs. This approach has the added benefit of building a more positive and collegial working environment, which supports employee retention efforts.
- Cash rewards. This simple yet effective strategy essentially subsidizes mode shift by offering cash payments for every sustainable trip a commuter logs.
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You don’t have to limit yourself to just one of these strategies. In fact, many of the most successful programs integrate multiple approaches into their commuter management policies. A multifaceted approach helps programs appeal to commuters with differing or variable motivations for participating.
Tout the personal benefits of sustainable commuting
Commute-related sustainable workplace practices can also deliver powerful and motivating personal benefits. Solo driving is a major source of stress, and relieving that stress can improve physical and mental health and wellness. As an added benefit, it can also lead to performance and productivity improvements.
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Active commuting, like cycling, jogging, and walking, improve cardiovascular fitness and boost mood, among many other benefits. Employers also win when their people teams are healthier, since employees will likely lose fewer days to illness-related absenteeism while reducing their use of healthcare benefits.
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Highlighting these sustainable workplace practices in your program promotion and messaging can strike a chord with commuters who are particularly motivated by opportunities for personal improvement.
Leaders must lead
With sustainable workplace practices, the powerful effects of leading by example often get overlooked. In a typical scenario, sustainability directives come from middle management and mainly target rank-and-file employees.
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However, when upper management and executives also participate, the sustainability message wields a more powerful impact. Organizational culture is a top-down construct, and this well-established truth is no different when it comes to sustainable workplace practices and commuter programs.
Commuting is just one piece of the sustainability puzzle
Commute-focused sustainable workplace practices are a powerful tool for building organizational culture and reducing Scope 3 emissions. However, they are ultimately only one piece of a larger puzzle. Employers can use them in tandem with other policy-based strategies to transform organizational culture in favor of sustainability.
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Important adjunct elements of a complete sustainability program include:
- Conserving energy, electricity, and water
- Forging stronger ties to sustainability-focused partners and vendors
- Reusing supplies and materials to the greatest possible degree
- Beautifying facilities and improving air quality with indoor plants and greenery
- Implementing a high-visibility segregated recycling program in common areas throughout the workplace
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Finally, encourage sustainability by building it into your employee benefits programs. For instance, you can offer team members the opportunity to take paid volunteering days with local sustainability-focused organizations. You can also strengthen your organizational support for hybrid and remote working to reduce the need for employees to commute in the first place.
Advance sustainable workplace practices with Pave Commute
Recognized with major industry awards, Pave Commute helps employers advance their strong and decisive commitments to sustainability. The App offers commuters convenient connections to a complete lineup of locally supported sustainable alternatives to driving. Users can leave car dependence behind, earn valuable rewards, and forge stronger social connections to colleagues and peers.
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Meanwhile, organizations can harness Pave Commute’s powerful and comprehensive tracking and analytics features to measure the positive impacts of their commute-related sustainable workplace practices. Employers can launch Pave Commute in mere minutes, with just a few clicks.
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