The saying goes "choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." A bulk of our time is spent at the workplace so anything we can add to make our work day more enjoyable, healthier and better for the environment is a stp in the right direction. Walking, cycling, carpooling and using the public transport are great ways to travel to work and being a TravelSmart Workplace has some fantastic benefits as outline below:
Staff
Increased health, happiness and fitness.
Reduced stress.
Potential cost savings.
Employer
Happier, healthier more productive workforce.
Reduced traffic congestion around your organisation.
Improved access to parking for clients and visitors.
Improved corporate image through promotion as an innovative and environmentally aware organisation.
Potential cost savings.
Community
Reduced traffic congestion in the vicinity.
Reduced need for additional car parking.
Reduced toxic exhaust fumes and particles.
More people walking and cycling creates a sense of community as it provides greater opportunities for social interaction.
An organisation which is accessible by a range of transport options does not disadvantage any members of society.
Environment
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, air and noise pollution.
Making your Workplace more sustainable
There are a number of simple and inexpensive ways you can make your workplace more sustainable, such as:
Installing bike racks
Building End Of Trip facilities (including showers, lockers, drying facilities)
Provide staff with TransLink go cards to encourage them to catch the bus/train to work
Have incentives for staff who carpool to work (designated car park spaces)
Offer an early mark to staff who ride their bike to work
Purchase a bike fleet for staff who don’t drive their car to work to use in their lunch hour.
Examples of TravelSmart Workplaces
Sunshine Coast Council
SCC is one of the largest employers on the Coast with over 2000 staff. The TravelSmart Workplace Program began in late 2009 and has made some significant improvements in how Council staff travel to work.
Activities:
Participation in National Ride to Work Day
Participation in National Walk to Work Day
Staff carpool parking bays
Carpool promotion
Pool of bicycles to ride to meetings instead of driving
TravelSmart Workplace Challenge
Staff Shuttle Bus trial
TravelSmart Induction for new staff
Youi Insurance
Providing parking for all their staff had Youi bosses scratching their heads, especially with staff numbers set to grow at the Lake Kawana site—but rather than just pushing for more parking spaces, Youi approached Sunshine Coast Council's TravelSmart team in the hope of achieving a more long term sustainable solution.
Youi now has a comprehensive 2011 Travel Plan that will help reduce the number of staff driving to work and increase awareness and uptake of sustainable travel. Staff have been actively participating in TravelSmart to work days and making use of their fleet of ten bikes.
14- Day Corporate Workplace Challenge
The first Corporate Workplace Challenge was held in May 2008 with 33 participating workplaces ranging from the cinema, hairdressers, a finance firm and even a vet surgery. Businesses form teams of four and earn TravelSmart “points” for riding a bike, walking, riding a scootering, carpooling, using public transport and even working from home.
The challenge targets business to promote fitness, teamwork, a positive competitive spirit, and support the workforce to be active, healthy, and more productive.
Noosa Hospital
Noosa Hospital signed up to become a TravelSmart workplace in June 2007. Hospital staff and the TravelSmart Team are working together to deliver initiatives under a Green Travel Plan for the Hospital. The Green Travel Plan sets out ways in which staff can be informed and encouraged to walk, cycle, catch public transport or carpool to work.
