A new survey carried out by benefits provider Edenred shows that six in ten employees would consider cycling to work if they had better support from their employer. A key barrier to commuting by bike is the lack of basic facilities in the workplace, such as somewhere to change, access to a hairdryer or a place to keep their bike safely.
The analysis found that although two thirds of employees say they are fit enough to cycle to work, a similar number have never done so. With 67 percent of employees living within cycling distance of work, the potential for employers to encourage commuting by bike is significant. Almost half of employees (42 percent) say they would be interested in the scheme if their employer offered one.
Education
Compounding the issue is a lack of education and a lack of access to suitable equipment, with a staggering 82 percent of the workforce claiming they don’t feel properly informed about what their employer does to support wellbeing at work and 22 percent not owning a roadworthy bike.
A previous study by Edenred found that cycling to work is a vital ingredient for employee wellbeing and performance, which in turn has a direct impact on how well organisations perform. Encouraging fitness and good health has positive benefits for them as individuals in their personal lives as well reducing sick days, improving engagement and performance at work as well as general resilience levels.
This latest analysis found that SMEs have the most to gain from cycle to work schemes as they are significantly under-represented among scheme participants: nearly half (43 percent) of the current 32,000 employers operating the scheme are large employers.
Andy Philpott, sales and marketing director at Edenred commented:
“Cycle-to-work is an area where everyone gains so it makes sense for organisations of all sizes to offer their employees the right scheme.
Employers benefit from the improved business performance, which goes hand-in-hand with a healthier, more resilient workforce who take less time off sick each year.
With so many employees willing to join a scheme, employers are in a better position than ever to maximise take-up by providing the right level of support, information and faciltiies.”
Robert joined the HRreview editorial team in October 2015. After graduating from the University of Salford in 2009 with a BA in Politics, Robert has spent several years working in print and online journalism in Manchester and London. In the past he has been part of editorial teams at Flux Magazine, Mondo*Arc Magazine and The Marine Professional.
