Employee Assistance - Gas Prices

ray a

Our ee's have been asking if we are going to do anything as a result of the high cost of gas. We've put together several options, one of which is going to a 4 day work week which will reduce travel time by 20%. Are any of the rest of you considering anything like that?

Paul in Cannon Beach

Alot of what we do was considered odd in the past but is paying off now. What I mean is, the significant majority of our employees are housed on grounds. Its a hassle at times but its been a huge advantage for us lately.

As housing prices skyrocketed on the coast, we are still able to hire and house our employees. Plus, for most of them, the commute involves walking across the street.

All we have done as an organization is to encourage combining trips and reduce unneccessary travel.

joannie

We've set back the governers on all of our trucks. The drivers aren't happy with the reduced power, but the MPG has improved.

Dutch2

We have several ee's that commute to work in the 20 - 30 mile range. Strangly, we have not heard much about the cost of gas - so far. Our Superivsors are encouraged to work with our ee's to help re-arange schedules to accomodate car pooling if and when the topic comes up.

ACU Frank

What few complaints we've had are mitigated by the fact that I have the longest commute - about two hours round trip. No one says much, because they know I have it worse.

Paul in Cannon Beach

I am suprised you arent riding your motorcycle Frank. If I still had my bike, I'd be riding it.

ACU Frank

I just can't ride it to work. Too many fatalities on that stretch of road.

Paul in Cannon Beach

I suppose. Motorcycles are usually one the losing end of car wrecks. With so many drivers texting and talking on cell phones, I don't blame you for being concerned.

If you ever stop posting suddenly, we'll know what happened.

ritaanz

Paaaaaaaauuuuullllllllllllll. How could you say that? Are you taking lessons from Hillary?

Paul in Cannon Beach

Did that come out wrong? I just meant that if Frank stops posting we will either know that he was horribly mangled in a motorcycle accident or he poked Rita one too many times.

Is that better?

ritaanz

Geeze. Yep, too many sleepless nights with Hillary.

Rockie

We have looked at several options with our employees. Unfortunately, our practice runs five days a week and we have more patients that we can schedule. We cannot close one day a week, even with extending hours. If we allow some departments to work four ten hour days and not others, there will be morale issues.

My assistant also brought up a good point. She said even if we allowed this to "save on gas", how many people do you think are going to sit home on a day off? They will be out driving around and doing things on that day off....so where is the gas savings? (unless, you have a very long commute).

ritaanz

I cannot look at it that way. The company goes to a 4 day work week so the employee saves on gas. What the employee does on his day off is up to the emplloyee. We, as the employer, did our part in the big picture.

Paul in Cannon Beach

I rode my new long board to work on Monday. Took me 10 minutes each way. Nice burning sensation in my legs too.

Saving gas and excercising! Go me!

joannie

Paul,

I know you live on the coast, so I have to ask. Are you talking about a surfing longboard or a skateboard longboard?

Paul in Cannon Beach

Mmm.. we have a pretty casual environment but coming to work in soaking board shorts wouldnt probably be OK.

I am riding a "long board" which is a skateboard that is well... longer and suited for cruising.

I'll post a photo sometime for you all to make fun of.

joannie

Yeah, I guess the salt water would be pretty hard on all your electronic gadgets, too.

Catbert46

Our company is considering a 4 day week. We will have to maintain departmental coverage so we will have some take Monday off and the others will take Friday off. We have even talked about telecommuting 1 day a week for the salaried exempt employees. I'll let you know later if we run into any huge problems as a result. We told the managers we would try this schedule for the summer and re-evaluate it at the end of summer. We also made them aware that any customer complaints about not being able to get help, we will immediately go back to a traditional schedule.

HRinVA

Yes, we allow telecommuting and flex schedules. Employees can choose between a paid parking spot or paid bus tickets. I will be working 3 days in the office, 1 day telecommuting myself this summer.