The Lyft Pass will allow organizations to create custom transportation programs and help employees commute to work safely.
As companies start bringing back their staff into offices, there is a large set of challenges that await them. To address these concerns related to employee safety, organizations have explored a range of wellness and health tracking apps such as those by SurveyMonkeyOpens a new window and CoversaOpens a new window . Contact tracing apps have emerged, as have scheduling appsOpens a new window that can ensure that all employees are divided into smaller shifts so that there only a few of them in the office at any time. But what is being done about their safety during the time that they travel to work and back home?
A survey conducted by Breathe, an H.R. software provider for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), along with Posture People and H.R. Central, shared that 88% of 482 survey respondents (including business leaders and employees) were not comfortable using public transport to commute to work in 2020. With such a considerable number of the workforce not feeling safe about the primary means of travel to work, organizations are facing a crisis. Another Traveller Sentiment Survey by Oliver WymanOpens a new window gathered responses from 4,600 people in nine countries during May. As per the data, more than half (52%) of respondents described themselves as uncomfortable using subways and buses.
With a clear view to meet this requirement, Lyft has announced the launch of the Lyft Pass, which is its new product that allows organizations to cover the costs of rides for their people. These can be employees and essential workers, customers, guests, patients, and more, without compromising on safety, convenience, and flexibility.
The Lyft Pass will allow organizations to create custom transportation programs that will work best for their needs and fit in their budgets. It will also enable them to understand how the programs are used. Lyft has already set up its internal Health Safety ProgramOpens a new window that has identified and implemented new requirements to help protect riders and drivers. Employers have the option to customize their program rules and restrictions so that the rides being accessed by employees are as per policy, including limiting travel to specific locations, times of day, and ride types. Also, employers have direct visibility to monitor usage and spend.
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How Are Public Transport Providers Ramping Up?
In the U.KOpens a new window ., train companies are planning to encourage commuters back on to public transport with a “travel safe this summer†campaign. The on-demand bus company SnapOpens a new window is offering an alternative mass transportation mode that will reduce infection risks significantly – a commuter service using open-topped buses. The Paris Metro allows only a limited number of people onto trains, and it also uses artificial intelligence tools to check whether people are wearing compulsory face masks.
This could be the beginning of a more comprehensive approach where the mass transit operators, as well as private mobility services, can work with employers to assess and then coordinate capacity in line with the schedules of commuters. For example, New York City began opening up some time back, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority asked major employers to consider offering flexible start times for employees to decongest the subways and make them safer.
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What Are Private Mobility Providers Doing?
Similar to Lyft’s latest offering, Ola has also announced the launch of its new solution in the U.KOpens a new window . to help people return to work post-lockdown. Ola Corporate clients now have the option to access the service through a new, personalized dashboard through which they can add and manage employees. Employees can book their own rides on their app and simply tag the ride as a Corporate ride. The fares are paid automatically from the company’s Ola Corporate account. This information can be seen and downloaded at any time from the dashboard. Ola will also provide clients with special account management support. Also, to maintain safety, the new service is connected to the safety features in Ola’s Ride Safe U.K. initiative.
As more considerable effort needs to be put into reviving the economy, mobility services and public transport will have to continue to maintain stringent safety measures, which can ensure that more employees feel comfortable in returning to work.