Accessible and affordable transportation is a critical employment support, without which many people—both with and without disabilities—would not be able to work. By implementing job-related transit benefits and services, businesses both large and small can play an important role in advancing support for alternative transportation options and open doors to employment for a wider segment of their communities, including people with disabilities. What’s more, they can realize bottom line benefits through cost savings and an improved public image in an increasingly “green” society.
Want to Learn More?
There are a number of resources small businesses can use to learn more about transportation considerations for employees, including employees with disabilities, such as:
In Action
Although its universally accessible customer service call center is located in downtown Chicago, the Illinois Tollway requires all employees who work at it to attend a four-week training session in a suburb not easily reached by public transportation. To ensure that it can still employ individuals who cannot provide their own transportation during the training period, due to disability or any other reason, the tollway provided daily transportation from a central downtown location, thus eliminating a potential barrier to employment with the organization.
Integrated Science Solutions, Inc. (ISSi), a small, woman-owned science and engineering contractor based in Walnut Creek, California, has unlocked the numerous benefits of employee transportation incentives. The company provides its staff a variety of commuter benefits, including up to $60 a month in transit subsidies as well as flexible work schedules and telecommuting opportunities. While all of these practices are recognized as exemplary practices for supporting employees who may have transportation challenges due to disabilities, they are valuable perks that can be enjoyed by all of ISSi’s workers, helping them achieve a better work-life balance while also doing their part to improve environmental air quality by reducing the number of cars on local roads.
