Monday, March 30, 2015

WorkSmart to the Traffic Rescue

If you sat in the traffic back-up for hours last week after the semi-truck crash on SR 99, you know firsthand how one bad accident can tie up traffic around downtown Seattle. Drivers literally couldn’t get from here to there. Add that to the city’s plan to reduce traffic lanes in the South Lake Union neighborhood to make way for streetcars, plus the frustrating search for on-street parking in that neighborhood, you can already start to see the advantages of a reduced commute – either through teleworking, a compressed workweek, or a flexible work schedule.

King County Metro is partnering with the Seattle Department of Transportation and Commute Seattle to provide the free WorkSmart program, all to help businesses be more productive, recruit and retain employees, and improve productivity, not to mention lessen the traffic impact on the environment. (Driver sanity might count for something, too).

Again, did we mention that the WorkSmart program is free to employers?

The WorkSmart team of experts has over 30 years of experience working with private, public and non-profit businesses from across the country. If you run a business, you might be thinking, ‘How can I possibly allow employees to work at home? They’re part of a team and we need to see each other face to face.’ The WorkSmart team has heard and seen it all when it comes to addressing concerns. They want to make it work for your company and your employees.

WorkSmart’s free services include one-on-one consultation for customized programs to:
·         Assess potential and necessary steps for a customized plan
·         Assist with overcoming concerns
·         Lead you through every step to put a program in place
·         Develop custom presentations and marketing materials to present the plan
·         Consult on technology needs
·         Develop policies, procedures and agreements
·         Train managers and employees
·         Provide evaluation guidelines and strategies

If you WorkSmart, what do you gain?
For employers, your employees are more productive, by 10-20%. Morale often improves, since employees haven’t battled lousy traffic to get to work. You can save on real estate costs, upwards of 25-90% in overhead, in situations where employees don’t need permanent office space. It helps you recruit and retain top employees. It can even ensure you won’t lose business in the event of construction projects, traffic accidents or emergencies. Planning to WorkSmart can also help your company meet CTR goals through reduced trips.

For employees, workers gain flexible schedules and the ability to work at a home office or location closer to home. It cuts commuting costs, plus you save anywhere from an hour to three hours a day on commuting time. WorkSmart surveys show improved morale and increased job satisfaction.

The community and environment benefit by more forward-thinking companies doing what they can to lessen the number of commuters on the roads. That means reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and often, credit towards LEED certification.

Here’s who to call if you’re interested in moving forward with a WorkSmart program:

Elham Shirazi, Lead Consultant
worksmart@kingcounty.gov
206.909.3498

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