Business Pays Employees to Walk or Bike

My personal past bike commuting stories have typically involved schlepping work clothes in a backpack and “sink showers” in office bathrooms. Well, not so at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Not only does the 1,100 employee company offer bike racks, locker rooms, and showers to encourage bike commuting – they also offer those who bike to work an extra $175 per quarter!

The company, based in progressive and parking-scarce Cambridge, Massachusetts, gives employees the option of driving in and parking in a garage paid by the employee on a sliding scale based on income; receiving $110 towards public transportation passes; or receiving $175 per quarter ($700/year) for walking or biking to work.

Well-exercised workers are more productive, as has been particularly well-documented with bike commuters. Human-powered commuters also offer employers lower parking costs and space requirements; lower health insurance rates; and a lower incindence of health-related absences.

Businesses are getting hip to the Carectomy cause, and in this case even offering cash incentives for employees to pry their asses out of cars and become healthier, happier people.

Via Boston Herald

Photo via Flickr by mattkeefe

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