January 22, 2016

Employer Spotlight: Transit Benefits a “No-Brainer” for FOX Architects

by Anthony Ahn

“We’re delighted the company is doing this!”

Julianne Kim, Talent Acquisition Manager at FOX Architects, has received a lot of praise over the new transit benefits program she introduced to employees earlier this month. After hearing about DC’s Commuter Benefits Law and attending a SmartBenefits seminar at WMATA, Julianne worked with goDCgo and our counterparts in Fairfax County to roll out a pre-tax transit benefits program not just to the required employees in Washington, DC, but also to all employees in their Silver Line-accessible office in Tysons Corner, VA.

Julianne loves that SmartBenefits is a zero-cost program and believes the administrative time is well worth it to make sure her employees are well taken care of. Transportation benefits and perks have been proven to increase job satisfaction and make your business an attractive place to work — creating a competitive edge for any organization. For Julianne, offering transit benefits was a “no-brainer” across the board. A survey conducted in partnership with goDCgo highlighted the typical commute costs for employees, which can be reduced by up to 40% through the new pre-tax program. In addition to the benefits program, FOX Architects provides convenient bike facilities and flexible telework arrangements. Thanks to these efforts and many more, FOX Architects recently earned a “Best Workplaces for Commuters” designation for their Tysons office.

To employers starting a new transit benefits program, Julianne recommends sending out plenty of clear communications to explain the registration process and let employees know what to expect. She also suggests offering specific monthly increments for employees to choose from which saves time for the staff member who is responsible for entering information into the SmartBenefits program.

Do you have any tips for organizations starting a commuter benefits program? Share them with info@godcgo.com to be included in our next newsletter!