The Holidays are coming – and with more and more of us returning to the office full time, what does that mean for commuters?
We all know that commuting during “normal times” is no picnic. But commuting during the holidays comes with its own unique challenges. Hours of operation on public transport might be shortened, regular routes might be changed, or services might be unavailable altogether.
Then there’s the unpredictability of the weather and traffic. Unexpected delays from weather become more common during winter months, and sometimes it feels like you can’t arrive on time no matter how early you leave.
But – commuting during the holidays doesn’t have to be a hassle. To manage stress and encourage your team to do the same, just make a few adjustments – first with your expectations, then with your schedule and/or method of transportation.
Here’s some tips:
1. Pack your patience
Whether you’re braving your commute alone or with hundreds of other commuters, delays are the name of the game. Pack your patience, and a book (only if you’re letting someone else do the driving).
Which leads us to…
2. Multi-task with mass transit
Take a load off and let someone else do the driving. When you take public transit, you can use your time on the road to check lots of boxes on your holiday to-do list. Check out this blog post about all the ways to maximize your time during holiday commutes.
3. Have alternatives ready
Bus and train schedules are likely to change or run on a shortened schedule. Don’t let yourself or your team be stranded. Try using alternative transit options like Lyft Shared Rides.
4. Plan ahead
If you employees typically buy transit passes on a monthly basis, encourage them to look at
buying a weekly or even daily pass to provide flexibility should they need to use another method of transportation.
5. Share the road
Carpool, carpool, carpool. Always recommend carpooling to avoid the stress of driving. Plus, it’s much more fun to do Christmas Karaoke with a group.
6. Use benefits
To entice your employees to use public transportation, consider offering commuter benefits. These benefits allow employees to set aside money in their paychecks tax-free every month to pay for commuting costs. Those savings mean employees pay less in tax on those earnings.
They can spend the money on mass transit, qualified paid parking, or rideshares. The money is paid directly to a transit or parking vendor or set up on a voucher or debit card.
How Edenred Can Help
We can’t avoid commuting, even during the holidays. But with options like mass transit and ridesharing, you can help your employees make the best of it. To make sure you’re offering the best commuter benefits, schedule a meeting with us today.
