Carpools consist of two or more persons driving together in a privately owned vehicle. At a workplace, employees may choose to carpool without any assistance or involvement from the employer; however, carpool incentive programs are a way for employers to encourage employees to carpool.
Carpool incentive programs may incorporate a variety of means to encourage employees to carpool. Possible incentives include reduced cost or free parking, preferred parking, or reward programs (such as prize drawings).
Employers can help employees form carpools through rideshare matching, which helps potential carpoolers locate others nearby with similar schedules. Regional rideshare organizations in most areas allow interested employees to register directly for no cost. Employers can direct their employees to these free services.
Employee benefits from carpooling include cost sharing, less wear and tear on vehicles, time savings in regions with high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, and the ability to talk, eat, sleep, or read while commuting.
The primary employer advantage is the need for fewer parking spaces; other advantages include less employee stress and improved productivity.
Programs to encourage carpooling, such as rideshare matching services, preferred parking for carpools, reduced parking costs for carpools, and commute awards programs qualify as additional commuter benefits under Best Workplaces for Commuters