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Category:
Diamond Ring SAFECO, |
- CEO: Roger Eigsti, President and CEO
- PM: John Resha, Transportation Manager
- Jeff Aumell, Transportation Analyst
- ETC: Steve Provo, Transportation Coordinator
Continued excellence
places SAFECO in the Diamond Ring
Winner of Diamond Awards in 1994, 1996, and 1997,
SAFECO's commute reduction program continues to be
innovative and effective. This nation-wide insurance
company, with corporate headquarters in Seattle, is
recognized this year as one of the first employers to
receive the Diamond Ring Award for an outstanding program
over time.
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Representing SAFECO (From left to right): John Resha, Roger Harbin, Steve Provo, Jeff Aumell. |
SAFECO is dedicated to commute trip reduction as a way to enhance the standard of living for its 4,500 area employees and its neighbors. Nearly 50% of SAFECO's employees currently use alternative commute modes.
SAFECO's outstanding results are due to nearly two decades of focus on finding ways to reduce employees' commutes, long before the organization was required to do so by a state law and local ordinances. SAFECO's strategies and results consistently exceed mandated commute-reduction requirements.
CTR program
has something for everyone
SAFECO has local offices in downtown
Seattle, the University District, Redmond, Mountlake
Terrace, and Federal Way. The company's commute trip
reduction program meets the needs of these diverse sites
by providing transit and ferry subsidies of 50% to 67%,
depending on location of work site, and a vanpool subsidy
of 50%. Fleet vehicles are available to employees for
both work-related and personal errands, and a guaranteed
ride home is provided to employees in case of emergency
or illness. In the University District and downtown
Seattle, parking for carpools and vanpools is free. In
other locations, ridesharing vehicles receive priority
parking spaces in prime locations.
As a member of the Greater Redmond Transportation Management Association, SAFECO participates in the Internet ridematching service provided by RideQuest.com and encourages employees to utilize the service. Work options such as telework and flextime make it easier for employees to balance their personal and professional lives, and to rideshare. On-site amenities such as cafes, food and beverage vending machines, automatic teller machines, vehicle detailing, engine care/oil change, and personal travel services reduce the need of mid-day trips by employees.
A new incentive program called Transportation Cents provides 75¢ per day credit on a SAFECO MasterCard debit card for each day an employee uses an alternative commute mode. The card can be used anyplace MasterCard is accepted, which enables an employee to purchase anything from meals to walking shoes to part of their next vacation.
“One of the most important elements of promoting alternative commuting is constant communication with your employees,” says John Resha, program manager. “We use newsletters, emails, and awareness forums in addition to an annual Transportation Day that celebrates the company's commuting successes and highlights available transportation options and incentives.
SAFECO believes in the value of commute trip reduction not only to its employees, but also to its own business objectives. These include maximizing current office and parking space, enhancing the recruitment and retention of employees, and strengthening goodwill and relationships with neighboring businesses.
Commuting
program
Results Of 4,500 employees, 720 carpool, 585 ride the bus, 450 vanpool, 90 telework, 90 work compressed workweeks, 90 walk, and 45 bicycle. |
*Some definitions: An “ETC” is the staff-level employee transportation coordinator responsible for the daily administration of the transportation program; “PM” is the transportation program manager; and “CEO” refers to the top management-level person at the worksite. “SOV” stands for single-occupant vehicle, and “CTR” for commute trip reduction.