The survey of 300 U.S.-based companies taken last month found that within the next six months, 22% of employers plan to offer at least some of their employees the option of a four-day work week, and 24% plan to allow more employees to telecommute.
The survey also found that two-thirds of the responding companies plan to increase mileage reimbursement amounts up to 20% for business-related travel, while 41% anticipate raising car allowance provisions up to 20%.
Other survey findings indicate that organizations are considering creative steps to help employees offset the high cost of gasoline, including organizing carpooling programs and offering company-funded van services from bus and train stations. Some 30% of responding companies offer carpooling programs, while another 23% plan to implement them in the next six months.
Organizations are also offering prepaid gas cards for perfect attendance and subsidies for public transportation costs. Subsidies for public transportation costs are provided by 20% of the respondents, and another 8% plan to offer this option in the next six months, according to the report.
Mitch Barnes, principal at Mercer in Atlanta, says "These options are more practical than raising salaries to cover high gasoline costs because of the implications associated with increasing pay, such as employer taxes, 401(k) matches based on percentage of pay and bonus payouts that are a percentage of pay.”
Barnes says, "Making the most of creative alternatives to help employees save on commuting costs is good management practice, supports attraction and retention concerns, and doesn't add significantly to corporate expenses.”