hrConnection Events
Best Practices Exchange
Rising Gas Prices: What's An Employer To Do?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
7:30 a.m. - Registration/Breakfast Buffet
8:00 a.m. - Program
Calhoun Beach Club, Solarium, 2nd floor
Free to hr connection members and their team members
$45 non-members
According to a 2008 survey of 800 full-time employees with an average round trip commute of 30 miles a day, rising gas
prices have caused one-third of them to indicate that they would quit their job for a commute nearer to home. In this
same research summarized by Elizabeth Agnvail in the SHRM June 2008 article called "Easing the Burden of Financial
Stress in the Workplace," respondents indicate that they were so concerned with the price of gas that they were less
attentive on the job, less excited about going to work and less passionate and conscientious about their workload.
There was little difference in results among people of different occupations, gender and work tenure. The research
was conducted by Wayne Hochwarter, the Jim Moran Professor of Management at Florida State University's College of
Business.
So what can employers do?
At this Best Practice Exchange, we will hear from Melissa Madison, Executive Director of the I-494 Corridor Commission
and 494 Commuter Services who will share some practical tips that both employers and employees in the Twin Cities can
take to ease the pain caused by the rising cost of their commutes. She will address a variety of commuting options
and resources as well as telecommuting policies and other approaches to addressing this challenge head-on. We will
also hear what small group member companies - small, mid-sized and large - are doing or thinking about doing to
address this crisis.
About the presenter: Melissa Madison works with employers and property managers to implement commuting benefits and
reach commuters with free transportation resources to reduce traffic congestion. Melissa has been with the I-494
Corridor Commission since 2003 and has helped hundreds of companies connect their employees to commuting resources.
Melissa has a B.A. in political science and lives in Edina with her family.
RSVP to Karen Marrone at kmarrone@hrconnection.net or 612-925-8347
