Many employers are helping workers cope with the record rise in gas prices with a mix of solutions, including cash and flexible work options, according to a survey by the Society for Human Resource Management. Some employers are offering direct financial aid, such as cost-of-living adjustments (2%), gas cards as rewards for employee performance (14%) and increases in mileage reimbursements to the IRS maximum (42%).
Others are choosing solutions that allow workers to burn less gas, like flexible work schedules (26%), telecommuting (18%) and public transportation discounts (18%). Some employers (12%) assist workers in organizing carpools and 7% give carpoolers priority parking.
The study also says more employers are considering compressed workweeks.
Source: Society for Human Resource Management, What Employers Are Doing to Help Their Employees with High Gas Prices in 2008, ww.shrm.org/press_published/CMS_025620.asp#P-4_0 .