Green Schemes: Championing the Environment Through Employee Benefits
Employees are increasingly scrutinising what businesses do to be more environmentally friendly and promote sustainability. In a recent survey, 55% of respondents reported that they research brands’ environmental impact and policies before accepting a job.
This extends to employee benefits, where there is now an expectation among employees that green schemes should be offered. As businesses slowly get up to speed and start making their benefits programme more green, your business could fall behind the competition if you don’t take it seriously.
Are you falling short when it comes to green benefits? Don’t panic! In this article, we will discuss why you should offer eco-friendly schemes and explore some popular green employee benefits.
Why do staff want green employee benefits?
Environmental and social issues are more relevant to employees than ever before, as society continues to grapple with the ongoing climate crisis and take preventative measures.
Where in the past, most people were happy to change their personal behaviours in the fight against climate change, it’s now expected that employers do their bit as well.
The vast majority of employees want their workplace values to align with their personal values, and green employee benefits are a good way of demonstrating that businesses share these priorities.
In fact, a massive 60% of employees said that sustainability benefits were very or fairly important as part of the overall benefits package. This figure rose to 72% for those aged 18 to 24, which shows how significant it is for younger generations like Millennials and Gen Z.
Why should employers offer green schemes?
Currently, only 40% of UK businesses offer substantive green benefits packages so more work needs to be done to prioritise sustainable perks.
Not only is it a requirement for existing and prospective employees, but businesses must also recognise the positive impact it can have on them as an organisation.
There’s a whole host of strategic, reputational and operational advantages associated with introducing green employee benefits, some of which include:
- Boost in staff satisfaction: Shows a commitment to employee values, which leads to a more positive work environment and increased job satisfaction.
- Enhanced employee engagement: Staff are likely to be more actively involved and focused on business goals if they work for a company that shares their values.
- Employee attraction and retention: Businesses can appeal to talented new hires and retain high-performing employees who value sustainable best practices.
- Purpose-driven culture: Aligning employee efforts with broader environmental and social impact goals will create a sense of purpose across the workforce.
- Improved brand reputation: Green schemes improve public perception of a company, positioning them as a business that cares.
- Environmental impact and corporate responsibility: A greener approach to employee benefits helps to reduce an organisation’s ecological footprint.
6 popular green employee benefits
So, which green schemes are employees seeking? Here, we explore the most popular green employee benefits your business should consider offering.
1. Cycle to work scheme
The GOAT of green employee benefits. A cycle to work scheme is a government-approved benefit that allows employees to spread the costs of a bike and accessories, typically using salary sacrifice.
It aims to reduce employees’ over-reliance on cars and encourage sustainable commuting habits, reducing carbon emissions, air pollution and traffic congestion.
Staff love it because the scheme saves them money and improves their health and fitness, all while aligning with their eco-friendly mindset. Plus, for employers, it’s low-cost to implement.
Want to learn more? Check out our cycle to work scheme, which offers huge savings and will move you a step closer to a more productive workforce.
Ready, get set, go!
Cycle to Work
2. Remote working
Remote working is a flexible work arrangement that gives employees the freedom to work outside of a fixed office environment. Not only is it a great scheme to help foster a positive work-life balance, but it can also reduce an employee’s carbon footprint.
It achieves this by cutting commuting emissions and reducing office energy use. Plus, it cuts down the need for business travel, allowing employees to conduct video calls online from anywhere.
Employees can benefit from lowering their personal carbon impact while also saving time and money, improving their mental health, job satisfaction and performance. In fact, according to a recent survey, 65% of remote workers said they were “extremely satisfied” with their jobs. Remote working makes a difference!
3. Electric company cars
Do you offer your employees company cars? If so, you’re missing a trick by not using electric vehicles.
Electric company cars can massively improve your organisation’s carbon footprint, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cutting air pollution.
Aligning with your climate action goals, it shows off your brand as eco-conscious and innovative. Plus, you might qualify for government grants and tax breaks.
For your staff, they can benefit from lower running costs and an extra smoooooth driving experience. Oh, and also doing their bit to look after the planet.
4. Partnerships with environmental organisations
This scheme involves businesses collaborating with environmental NGOs, nonprofits or advocacy groups through:
- Donations, sponsorships or grants
- Joint campaigns
- Volunteering programmes
- Carbon offset initiatives
It’s a great way of making a lasting impact for a worthy cause and demonstrates to employees that you go above and beyond as an organisation. It can also have a positive influence on your brand’s reputation and create partnership opportunities.
For example, Patagonia pledges 1% of sales to the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. Plus, IKEA has a long-term partnership with the WWF focused on responsible forestry, cotton farming and climate resilience.
5. Holiday trading to enable low-carbon travel
Holiday trading has always been a popular employee benefit, allowing staff to buy or sell holiday days from their employer, which gets deducted from their salary. However, it’s not often seen as an eco-friendly scheme.
But, hear us out. It means employees can take slower, more environmentally friendly travel options, such as trains or ferries (instead of flights), utilising the extra holiday they have. Plus, it frees up more time for those who wish to go on eco-friendly holidays or volunteer for environmental causes.
You can grant employees greater flexibility and control with our best-in-class holiday trading scheme. Personalised holiday calendars help to unlock a more motivated, engaged workforce.
Holiday Trading
6. Volunteering opportunities
Our final green employee benefit involves rewarding employees with a set number of days to volunteer during work hours without losing pay or holiday days.
This lets them pick a charity or cause of their choice, which could be environmentally focused, and encourages employees to make a direct, sustainable contribution.
You could even organise group volunteering days to build team spirit and create a joint purpose. Examples of possible volunteer work include wildlife conservation, reforestation projects, river and ocean clean-ups, and natural disaster relief.
Introduce green schemes with Boostworks
Ready to turn your business into an eco-friendly, green machine? If you want to stay competitive and meet the demands of existing and prospective employees, then you have no choice but to make your company more environmentally friendly.
Employee perks can play a major role in this movement, and the best way to implement green employee benefits tailored to your staff is by partnering with Boostworks.
With our help, you can deliver on your sustainable best practices, boost the morale and wellbeing of your employees, and enhance your brand reputation.
Still need convincing? Get in touch with a friendly member of our team today.
Book a DemoBack to blog
