{"id":4385,"date":"2020-08-20T15:41:58","date_gmt":"2020-08-20T15:41:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogocharters.com\/blog\/?p=4385"},"modified":"2022-09-29T14:03:34","modified_gmt":"2022-09-29T14:03:34","slug":"employers-can-help-employees-commute-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogocharters.com\/blog\/employers-can-help-employees-commute-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"How Employers Can Help Employees Commute During COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s become increasingly clear that the COVID-19 pandemic won\u2019t end anytime soon, and though many employees continue to work from home, many others have jobs that require them to be onsite. If you\u2019re running a business or organization where your employees have to come in, there\u2019s still a lot you can do to help them feel safer and less stressed during their commute.<\/p>\n

At GOGO Charters, we\u2019ve heard from many businesses that are trying to transport employees during COVID-19<\/a>, from universities<\/a> in Tampa<\/a> to businesses<\/a> in NYC<\/a>. Based on our experience, we\u2019ve compiled a list of tips that can help you keep your team safe and make them feel valued.<\/p>\n

\"Nurse<\/p>\n

1. Let people work from home if they can.<\/h2>\n

Doctors<\/a> or construction workers obviously can\u2019t work remotely, but if your business has people who can, let them. Even a single department working from home can free up roads, public transportation, and space in the workplace for people who do need to work in person.<\/p>\n

In order to keep your team working from home effectively, try to provide technology that allows them to stay in contact, like video conferencing or chat programs. You can also set clear expectations for whether employees can work irregular hours or whether you need them online during specific shifts.<\/p>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

2. Make sure the workplace is safe for those who are coming in.<\/h2>\n

If you need employees to commute into work, make sure the space is safe for them when they arrive. Leave plenty of space for social distancing onsite, and consider paying for additional cleaning and sanitizing services. You can also provide abundant cleaning supplies like disinfectant wipes, hand soap, and hand sanitizer.<\/p>\n

It may also be a good idea to offer masks for employees who can\u2019t afford their own or have used up the ones they already had. Although making masks mandatory is wise, essential employees may not always have time to wash reusable masks or buy new disposable ones.<\/p>\n

\"Factory<\/p>\n

3. Consider safe alternatives to driving individually.<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s easy to say, \u201ceveryone drive in your own car so you\u2019ll be safe.\u201d But if people who previously carpooled or took public transit suddenly start driving alone, it can cause congestion and unnecessary use of gas. More importantly, employees who don\u2019t have a car, don\u2019t have a license, or only have one car in their family don\u2019t have the option of driving alone.<\/p>\n

So what commuting method is safe but doesn\u2019t require everyone to have an individual car? Your business can choose from several options.<\/p>\n

a.\u00a0\u00a0 Public transit<\/h3>\n

Public transit is usually an environmentally friendly alternative to sitting in traffic, but during the time of COVID-19, many people are understandably hesitant to be in contact with dozens or hundreds of strangers while on a bus or train.<\/p>\n

\"Women<\/p>\n

You can keep everyone a little safer by following the workplace safety guidelines above, but you may want to offer your employees who rely on public transportation an alternative way to commute until a vaccine is available. That\u2019s where carpools, vanpools, and shuttles come in.<\/p>\n

b.\u00a0\u00a0 Carpooling<\/h3>\n

Carpooling makes it possible for people who don\u2019t have their own car to get to the office, and it\u2019s more environmentally friendly than everyone driving alone. It\u2019s also safer than public transit, since your employees are exposed to fewer people.<\/p>\n

However, carpooling has several downsides. It only works if a good number of your employees live near each other and have cars that they\u2019re willing to share. Even if people are happy to help out, carpools won\u2019t work if you\u2019ve got some employees commuting from Irving<\/a> while others live in downtown Dallas<\/a>. And since many people are hesitant to let someone else drive their vehicle, one person could end up doing all of the driving for an entire group, which can be stressful.<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vanpooling<\/h3>\n

If members of your team don\u2019t want to use their personal vehicles for carpooling, they can \u201cvanpool\u201d by chipping in for a van that they take turns driving. Your business might want to offer subsidies to make vanpooling more affordable or preferred parking spaces for people who opt to car- or vanpool. You can also team up with ridematching organizations that help people find carpools or vanpools they can join.<\/p>\n

However, many people can\u2019t afford to rent a van, even if the cost is shared. Vanpooling also requires your employees to do the driving, which can be stressful and puts a burden on those who have licenses and feel confident driving a van.<\/p>\n

\"Carpool<\/p>\n

d.\u00a0\u00a0 Shuttles<\/h3>\n

When you rent a shuttle, like the ones GOGO Charters offers, you can request a sprinter van, a minibus, or a full-size charter bus<\/a>. No matter what size of vehicle you request, it\u2019ll come with a professional driver<\/a>. That means no forcing employees to drive and put wear and tear on their personal vehicles.<\/p>\n

It also means you can decide which amenities you want. Reclining seats? Easy. WiFi? We\u2019ll make sure your employees can check their email or listen to a podcast during the commute. And if you\u2019re concerned about accessibility, you can request an ADA-compliant shuttle<\/a> with a wheelchair ramp, wider aisles, and wheelchair seating.<\/p>\n

Maybe most importantly, it\u2019s easy to make a shuttle safer than public transportation. You control how far apart people sit and whether masks and temperature checks are required for passengers. GOGO Charters will make sure that buses are regularly cleaned, all drivers wear masks, and boarding from the back is available (if that\u2019s possible on the bus you chose.)<\/p>\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Here are a few tips on making a shuttle work for your business:<\/p>\n