Commuting

Mobility touches on several areas: road safety, physical and mental health, ergonomics and even job satisfaction. Employees who travel to work safely and conveniently start the day with less stress and more energy. Safer travel also means fewer accidents. It’s therefore definitely in your interest to make commuting part of your wellbeing policy.

Wellbeing on the way to work

Helping ensure a safe and pleasant commute for your employees can bring significant benefits.

• Extra safety measures such as providing bicycle helmets and fluorescent vests mean fewer accidents – and therefore lower absenteeism costs.
  
  

• By focusing on more sustainable forms of mobility, you are doing your bit for the environment. For example, you can offer a bicycle leasing plan, invest in the electrification of your fleet or encourage the use of public transport.
  
  

• More active modes of travel (such as cycling or walking) have a positive effect on your employees’ physical and mental wellbeing. Did you know that spending 30 minutes in traffic congestion every day increases the risk of chronic stress by 21%? That represents a serious impact on wellbeing. Encourage your employees to consider the best way to commute and where necessary make things easier with measures such as flexible working hours, satellite offices or working from home.
  
  

• Ergonomic seating on a bike or in a car has a significant impact on preventing musculoskeletal disorders. As an employer, you can offer tips and training on ergonomics while on the road.
  
  

• A sound mobility policy is good for your image as an employer committed to employee wellbeing.

A smooth-running mobility policy

Despite the rising number of commuting accidents, there is no specific legislation on integrating safe commuting into your wellbeing policy. However, every employer has a number of responsibilities:

• a duty of care to mitigate risks associated with mobility

• an obligation to record and analyse commuting accidents

• a responsibility to give employees accurate information and raise their awareness of safe travelling

Based on this responsibility and duty of care, you can start developing an effective mobility policy. A good policy covers:

• Safe infrastructure (such as bicycle parking, changing rooms, charging stations)

• Awareness (through campaigns and training)

• Training and support (e.g. through Mensura in partnership with Vias)

• Recording and analysing road accidents

Making safe commuting part of your current wellbeing policy can seem challenging. Mensura can give you across-the-board support in this process. If you have questions about commuting allowances, contact your social secretariat.