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
