Workers thinking their willingness in long commutes

Every day we get calls from people who are looking for work. This morning I talked with a woman who has decided that her long commute is no longer worth the effort. She has long struggled with the time spent commuting when she could be enjoying time with family and friends. The price of gas has just pushed her over the edge and she has come to the conclusion that enough is enough. She is ready to begin searching for another job.

Last week we were talking to a young man about a great job opportunity with a well-known employer in northern Nevada. He had been unemployed for several months and was excited about the company and the new job responsibilities. Well, let me say he was excited until he realized he would be working at the Reno-Tahoe Industrial Park located between Sparks and Fernley off I-80. With regret casting long shadows across his face he withdrew his acceptance of the job, stating he would not be able to afford the gas to drive to work. With more and more people living from paycheck to paycheck, the rising price of fuel is taking a larger and larger bite out of both basic and discretionary income.

People from all walks of life are re-evaluating the choices that they make. At a recent training workshop, I met a young lady who has been commuting to work in Reno from Carson Valley every day. Furthermore, she stated she was horrified by the cost of filling her gas tank every week. She confided that if she didn't absolutely love her job she would be looking for a new position closer to her home.

When it costs more and more just to drive to work, people begin considering if they should change jobs.

They wonder if they can find something closer to home or find a job on the bus route. They ask themselves what they can give up. Small disappointments make a big difference: a missed training opportunity, boredom with job duties, or a conflict with a supervisor may be all it takes to make the decision. All for a tank of gas we change our priorities. We delay the drive to California to visit family. We change our vacation destination from a two-day drive to Oregon to a two-hour drive to a rental cabin.

As gas prices skyrocket many employers are beginning to feel the pinch as well. In addition to the business impact of rising fuel and energy costs, an organization's ability to recruit and retain good workers has become substantially more difficult. Especially hard hit are those businesses located on the outskirts of town in communities such as Spanish Springs, Sun Valley, Stead, Fernley, Dayton and Carson City.

Employers in Northwest Reno have been experiencing difficulties finding employees to commute north since last fall even before the earthquakes rocked Verdi and Mogul with such frequency and intensity that some employees are too frightened to work in the area.

All workers and especially low wage earners are struggling more than ever to make ends meet. Savvy businesses are in a unique position to improve recruitment and retention while helping their employees save money. There are several steps an employer can take that will cost very little and be a major benefit to the many employees wrestling with these issues.

First, employers can develop programs that encouraging car pooling. This is an easy, painless approach to help employees while doing something positive for the environment and the community. It can be as simple as announcing a carpool program and employees to sign up on a designated website or bulletin board. Interested parties can coordinate car pools on their own using information on the boards regarding work hours and commute locations.

Another low-cost idea is to provide bike racks or other suitable storage areas for employees who would like to ride to work. Popular options include condensed work weeks or working from a home office once or twice per week. Every day that an employee can avoid driving his or her car to the office will result in saving fuel costs.

For businesses with greater financial resources, there are some additional options to consider. A great benefit is to purchase or subsidize bus passes for employees or through payroll deduction. Some companies offer employee incentive programs or programs that recognize years of service. Smart companies can add prepaid gas cards to their incentive programs or as a spot bonus for an employee demonstrating exceptional performance.

As wages remain relatively flat and living expenses continue to rise, the cost of driving to work takes a monster-size bite from an employee's paycheck. Implementing one or more creative, low cost programs would provide a huge benefit for both the company and the employees. As businesses seek to find the best talent available, it is the little things that matter. Having programs that support employees and encourage them to drive less and to save more go a long way towards creating a group of preferred companies to work for in northern Nevada.

Connie Johnson is managing director of Talent Framework, a human resources firm in Reno. Contact her at 775.322-6836 or connie@talentframework.com.