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You are here: Home >>  Communications Kit >>  Getting the Messages Right >>  Getting the Messages Right for Employees

Getting the Messages Right for Employees

When considering the key messages that you wish to promote, think about the key benefits to employees, the organisation itself and the wider community.

These should form the basis of your communications as they will be the most motivating:

Here are a few key messages that you need to get across to employees:


Saving money
 

Employees can save money by considering more sustainable travel choices. Car sharing can save individuals a large amount of money. Sharing the cost of fuel and reduced wear and tear on the car can make a big difference financially. Cycling and Walking are FREE and many employees may find that public transport saves them money too.

 

Things you could do to promote these messages:

  • Run an initiative to help employees calculate how much they could save through car sharing, using public transport or active modes of travel. Stress that it isn’t just the fuel costs, but tax, maintenance of the car etc. 
  • Promote savings to be made on public transport season tickets. Offer a competition with a season ticket as a prize to encourage public transport usage.

Improved health
 
Employees can see the health benefits by walking/cycling more often. It allows them to meet their recommended weekly exercise (as well as allowing them to save money!). Even getting off the bus a stop earlier and walking the rest of the way to work will make a difference. 
 

Things you could do to promote these messages:

  • Look at setting up walking/cycling groups during lunch hours. Offer a guided walk or cycle to encourage 30 minutes of exercise per day.
  • Consider running a cross department incentive to find the healthiest department and measure active travel modes, along with overall improvement in fitness and well being.
  • Use facts and figures to promote the health benefits. For example, 30 minutes of daily exercise, such as cycling or walking, can halve your risk of heart disease. 
  • Look at the possibility of taking part in a cycling or walking related charity event.
  • Measure “green miles” across the business, with points allocated for the number of green miles that a department clocks up. A reward could be a department lunch, or similar. Green miles could be made by car sharing, public transport, cycling and walking, or you can limit it purely to active modes depending on what you think is most realistic.
  • Consider running a canteen offer. A  free coffee or breakfast for everyone who cycles/walks during a particular week.

Reduced stress

Getting stuck in traffic is not only a waste of personal and working time for many employees but it can also be very stressful and lead to absenteeism. Providing employees with other choices can help to reduce their stress levels and put them back in control of their journeys. Taking public transport lets someone else take the strain while they work or relax. Walking and cycling will help to improve fitness and general well being.
 

Things you could do to promote these messages:

  • Get employees to post details of their daily commute to work and then challenge them to try a different mode to compare time/cost and stress levels.
  • Offer free travel passes with a local public transport operator to encourage a trial period on public transport.
  • Have free bus/train tickets in the office and allow employees to use them for business travel purposes.
  • Offer a series of guided walks/cycles during lunch hour to show possible routes and demonstrate the stress relief that active modes can offer.
  • Consider working with HR to compare stress levels of drivers with other mode users. You could run a quick poll at the start of a particular day to compare how stressful employees found their journey to work.

Better for the environment

While this is not a key motivator for most people, it is a consideration.  The benefits of less traffic and congestion are not only quicker journeys, less stressful journeys but also less pollution and lower C02 emissions now and for future generations. Knowing that they are doing something with a longer term benefit will make employees feel good about themselves. They will feel that they are making a difference.
 

Things you could do to promote these messages:

  • Run a carbon footprint exercise to quantify employee’s carbon footprints for commuting and business journeys. 
  • Get employees to post details of their daily commute to work and then challenge them to try a different mode to compare time/cost and stress levels.
 
Don't forget the fun factor too!
 
For many employees, there are the social aspects to consider. For example, car sharing can be very sociable. It gives the chance to catch up on the weekend sport or office gossip. So too can using public transport, with a group of employees making similar journeys, or walking to and from the station together. For others, the chance to walk or cycle to work adds enjoyment to their commute. They are getting fresh air, exercise and are able to clear their heads or enjoy the company of colleagues as they cycle or walk together.
 

Things you could do to promote these messages:

  • Run a coffee morning/lunchtime session for all those interested in car sharing and get some existing car sharers to talk about why they enjoy car sharing so much. 
  • Get employees to post their own positive, “fun” experiences of commuting in a group.  Are there a group who catch the same train every night? 
  •  Interview regular cyclists about why they enjoy it so much and use them as case studies to encourage other employees.
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