Lukas Patecki

Right now, working in the office is the last thing anyone wants to do – we all know remote work is the best way to stay safe during the current epidemic. 

That said, there are people out there who simply don’t have this option, such as factory works, so how can we limit their exposure?

Carpooling isn’t going to save the world, but it does bring a few benefits that make it highly worth while during emergency situations like this.

Who is still working?

Before we begin, let’s state clearly that carpooling or other transport options aren’t a means to force people to get to work; they should only be used when remote work (or no work at all) isn’t a viable option.

It’s been estimated that around 56% of US jobs can be done from home. Assuming that employees have made extra effort to push this figure up, we can still expect numerous jobs that don’t have that option. That leaves two choices:

• Businesses that aren’t necessary right now and/or have a lot of public contact, such as retail shops and restaurants, should close. In many countries, this is already legally mandated, save for drive-thrus and contactless options.
• For companies that work in an isolated location, such as factories and delivery centres, remote work isn’t possible for everyone. Those that can, should, while those that can’t need to be treated as well as possible if their role is necessary. 

While some businesses aren’t vital right now, don’t forget that many of these roles facilitate the ongoing support of the remote life that half of the world is arguably currently relying on. Even remote workers need groceries, medical supplies and more – all of which needs to be sold, produced and/or delivered.

The Risk Of The Commute

People get to work via different means – right now, this means different levels of risk that need to be considered.

• If employees live close enough to walk, that’s great!
• If employees can drive to work, this is also useful. In places like the US, this is already the norm and has continued to work where needed.
• If employees use public transport, however, they have unnecessary exposure. The excess of people on trams, buses and trains only invites risk.

The problem here is that, while the first two groups are relatively safe, the 3rd group often doesn’t have such an option. There will always be people who don’t drive or are unable to get in via any other means. If home work isn’t an option, companies owe it to their employees to help in any way they can.

How Does Carpooling Help?

You need employees to get to work, but you want them to come into contact with as few people as possible. You also need a solution for people who don’t have their own transport. Carpooling can help solve both of these needs.

Because carpooling only relies on fellow workers, contact and exposure is minimised. There’s no random factor from public transport and, since everyone can share the same ride over the next few weeks, such risks are greatly reduced.

Of course, carpooling has more benefits than this – it reduces traffic, parking strain and harmful emissions. Right now, however, the most important factor is that it can help make public transport less of a necessity at a time when its the most dangerous way to travel.

How to get started

Right now, you’re looking for an immediate solution; the sooner you can protect your employees, the better. We’ve created a process to help implement a carpooling project as quickly as possible.

We won’t just give you the app; get in touch with us and we’ll work together to create an implementation scheme. Given that as many people as possible should be working remotely, we just need to focus on the core teams that don’t have this option.

Calculating the best rides and routes is what our app does best. If you’re still not convinced, we’ve even got a carpool simulation to help you! Send our survey out to your employees (again, since we’re in a crisis, you should directly focus on people who still need to travel to work – remote options should always come first where possible!). 

This survey asks about there starting location, working hours and willingness to participate. Given that we’re trying to keep people safe and healthy, don’t be afraid to move shifts around; if more people start and finish at the same time, there are more options for carpooling. It’s a small sacrifice to make for employee wellbeing. From this information, we can determine how many common rides you can expect.

Let’s get started

Really, it’s that simple. With your employee’s involvement, we can determine the best carpooling strategy in a day or two. After that, all you need to do is get the app and implement it.

Everything starts with a simulation – or perhaps you’d like to schedule a demo? We want to help you, your company and your valuable employees stay as safe as possible in this crisis, so please get in touch!