Our award-winning Employer Services team provides complimentary consultations to businesses starting or enhancing their commuter benefits programs.
From transit benefits to secure bike parking and telework, we make it easy for your employees to choose sustainable, affordable and healthy ways to get to work.
As a free service, we work with you to customize, create and easily administer employee transportation benefits. Our client-serving team is here to benefit both your bottom line and your employees.
Get started on implementing your telework policy today with our FREE Employer Telework Guide
Training and support for organizations starting or revamping telework, flexible scheduling and compressed work schedule policies
Complimentary consultations and educational resources to help your organization become compliant with the DC Parking Cashout Law.
Complimentary consultations and resources to help your company comply. Download our DC Commuter Benefits Law toolkit to get started.
Custom online or on-site education about sustainable transportation choices and commute options, available upon request
Get Around Guides mapping your nearby transportation options, commuter benefit templates and brochure ordering services
Presentations and event or fair exhibits, tailored to your employees’ unique transportation needs, available upon request
Assistance providing discounted Capital Bikeshare Corporate Memberships to encourage employees to bike to work. Learn more or enroll now.
Unique commuter surveys polling your employees’ travel patterns to uncover results and identify program recommendations, available upon request
Solutions to all of your organization’s bicycling needs, from secure bike storage to employee bike benefit implementation
Commute surveys, custom commute resources and information workshops to help ease the transition to a new office. Use the relocation guide to get started.
TRANSPORTATION ALL-STAR PROGRAM
Get the recognition you deserve and gain award winning status by becoming a goDCgo Transportation All-Star! This program recognizes DC organizations (Employers, Hotels, Residential Properties, and K-12 Schools) for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Based on the sustainable programs you have in place, like commuter benefits/subsidies and educating employees about their travel options, you can earn a designation ranging from bronze to platinum and receive special perks and honors.
The DC Parking Cashout Law requires DC employers with 20 or more covered employees that offer a parking benefit (free or subsidized parking) to their employees to either offer a Clean Air Fringe Benefit to employees receiving the parking benefit, develop a transportation demand management plan, or pay a Clean Air Compliance fee.
All DC employers with 20+ employees must report to DDOT every other year, regardless of if they offer a parking benefit.
Get started by browsing goDCgo’s compliance resources and materials to the left or or get complimentary compliance help from goDCgo’s Employer Services team.
Who is Required to Comply
Employers who have 20 or more covered employees and also provide a parking benefit will need to implement a compliance option prior to the compliance deadline of January 15th, 2023 and follow the reporting instructions for the compliance option they implemented. Missed the reporting deadline? Read DDOT guidance on how to proceed.
Who is Required to Report?
District employers who have 20 or more covered employees will need to complete bi-annual reporting, showing their compliance or exception, starting in January 2023; no matter how they handle their parking.
Employers who meet one of the criteria below are exempt.
a. businesses that own their own parking and owned it before October 1, 2020
b. businesses that are
under a current parking lease that began before October 1, 2020 are exempt until the lease terms are up (regardless of possible extensions)
c. hospitals and universities with pre-existing Campus Plans (with two key exceptions: if hospitals or universities build outside of an existing campus plan, such construction will have to comply with the law. Additionally, upon the expiration of their campus plan, universities and hospitals will have to implement compliance measures.)
NOTE: Employers that fall under one of these exemptions or don’t offer a parking benefit, still have to report their exemption to DDOT by January 15, 2023 and every other year thereafter.
DC employers can comply with the law in one of the following ways:
1. Offer a Clean Air Transportation Fringe Benefit
Often referred to as the parking cashout option, employers offer employees the option to receive a Clean Air Transportation Fringe Benefit (such as a transit or vanpool subsidy) equal to or greater than the market value of their parking spot in exchange for giving up their parking benefit.
2. Develop and Implement a Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDM)
TDM plans are subject to approval by DDOT and must reduce single occupancy vehicle commuting by at least 10% from the previous year until 25% or less of employees’ commuter trips are made by car.
3. Pay a Clean Air Compliance Fee
Pay the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) a fee of $100 per month, per employee offered parking benefits.
Compliance Tip: Discontinue Free or Subsidized Parking
By discontinuing free or subsidized parking, you remove the criteria that requires you to comply with the law. Out of all the options, removing parking benefits is the quickest and most cost-effective way of complying with the law. Note: If you choose this option you still need to report to DDOT every two years that you do not provide free or subsidized parking.
For more information on the compliance options, download goDCgo’s DC Parking Cashout toolkit. In addition, goDCgo can help employers plan and implement compliance options 1 & 2 at their organization. Contact us at info@goDCgo.com to get started.
All covered employers need to report how they are complying, or if an exemption applies to them, by January 15, 2023 and every other year thereafter – unless the compliance option they chose says otherwise. All reporting templates can be found on DDOT’s website and under the resource tab to the left. Missed the reporting deadline? Read DDOT guidance on how to proceed.
Employers must report via the DDOT Reporting Dashboard.
Compliance Option 1: Clean Air Fringe Benefit Reporting
Every two years, employers will need to submit a report to the District Department of Transportation providing a breakdown of the number of employees offered and accepting benefits under this option. The first report is to be submitted by January 15, 2023.
Compliance Option 2: TDM Plan Reporting
TDM Plans must be submitted by the reporting deadline of January 15, 2023, and will then be
reviewed and approved or rejected by DDOT. Rejected plans will have a chance for revision and resubmission. Within 90 calendar days of the approval of an organization’s TDM plan, the employer must provide DDOT with evidence demonstrating the employer’s implementation of the plan.
In addition, employers with an approved TDM plan must submit an annual data report on the mode split of the organization’s employees for the previous calendar year.
Compliance Option 3: Clean Air Compliance Fee
Every two years, employers who choose to pay the Clean Air fee, must submit proof of payment to DDOT.
See pages 11 & 12 in our DC Parking Cashout Law Toolkit for more details on how and what to report.
Browse the resources below or get complimentary compliance help from goDCgo’s Employer Services team. Schedule your compliance meeting to get started.
DC PARKING CASHOUT LAW
The reporting deadline for the DC Parking Cashout Law has officially passed. If you missed the reporting deadline, please contact DDOT as soon as possible at parkingcashout@dc.gov. Employers who do not contact DDOT or submit a report on time will be audited to determine compliance status. Fines will not be levied at this time, but DDOT will work with non-compliant employers to come into compliance.
Commuter benefits are transportation fringe benefits regulated under Section 132(f) of the IRS Tax Code, allowing employees to reduce their monthly commuting expenses for transit, vanpool, and parking. Employers can offer employees a range of pre-tax or subsidized transit benefits, as well as a host of related perks such as secure bike parking and assistance finding a carpool.
In DC, employers with 20 or more employees, must provide commuter benefits. See DC Commuter Benefits Law below for details.
This law requires organizations and businesses with 20 or more employees who work in the District to offer commuter transit benefits—pre-tax or subsidized—for use on Metrorail, local and express buses, commuter trains and vanpools. Employer-provided transportation also complies with the Law.
Passed by the DC Council as part of the Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2014, the Law aims to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions by reducing DC’s drive-alone rate. Similar to laws in San Francisco, New York and other metropolitan cities, this measure helps to reduce rush hour demands on our region’s roadways and expand access to public transit.
1. Pre-tax Commuter Benefits: Employees can deduct up to $300 per month from their paycheck before taxes and use it towards Metrorail, bus, commuter rail and vanpool fares.
2. Subsidized Commuter Benefits: Employers may offer financial support in the form of a fringe benefit (employee is not taxed) specifically to fund an employee’s daily commute.
For information on the treatment of certain fringe benefits, including qualified fringe benefits, review the IRS 2019 Publication 15-B, the Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits.
Transit benefits can be administered in-house at no cost through WMATA’s SmartBenefits® program. On a monthly basis, pre-tax or subsidized funds are auto-loaded onto an employee’s SmarTrip® card for use on most regional transportation. If your employee(s) do not currently have a WMATA SmarTrip® card, they can conveniently purchase one online. Set up your organization’s SmartBenefits® account in the employer portal. Collect and enter employees’ SmarTrip® serial numbers and requested contribution amounts online by the 15th of the month. Funds appear on employees’ cards on the 1st of the following month. Watch the FICA and payroll tax savings roll in with praise from your satisfied employees!
3. Employer Provided Transportation
Employer provided transportation such as shuttles and vanpools also comply with the law. Contact goDCgo to learn more about these options.
Effective November 14, 2019, businesses operating in Washington, DC that are not in compliance with the DC Commuter Benefits Law, will be subject to fines. The Department of Employment Services (DOES) is enforcing the DC Commuter Benefits Law and can answer questions regarding compliance and enforcement. Please contact DOES, Office of Wage-Hour at 202-671-1880 or OWH.ask@dc.gov.
For the first offense, each month that a business is not in compliance could result in a fine of $100 per covered employee. Repeat offenders would see fines of $200 per employee for the second offense, $400 per employee for the third offense, and $800 per employee for subsequent offenses.
DC Commuter Benefits Law Education
Employer Commuter Benefits Toolkit
DC Commuter Benefits Law Infographic
Employee Communication Templates
Commuter Benefits Reminder Email
Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Announcement ENGLISH | SPANISH
Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Infographic ENGLISH | SPANISH
DC Commuter Benefits Law Official Text
Full Text of the Law
Employee Notice for the Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2015
Notice of Final Rulemaking
Reduced Cost and Tax Savings
-Save up to 9% on FICA payroll taxes
-Reduce employee commute costs by up to $1,200 in taxable income and out-of-pocket commute expenses
Recruitment and Retention
-Increase job satisfaction and improve employee retention
-Promote healthy, active transportation and lower healthcare costs
-Help reduce employee stress from commuting and related expenses
Sustainability and Recognition
-Be seen as forward-thinking and committed to being a green workplace
-Compete for elite designations like Best Workplaces for Commuters and Bicycle Friendly Business
-Earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits
Employers may provide a benefit to cover bicycle-related expenses. The benefit can be managed internally by reimbursing employees for bicycle-related expenses or by providing a monthly voucher, redeemable at local bike shops.
The Bicycle Commuter Benefit is only available as an employer-paid benefit. Employees can receive both the transit benefit and bicycle benefit in the same month. Access to a transit benefit and a bike benefit will have the most impact on an employee’s decision to travel to work sustainably.
Effective January 1, 2018, individuals who participate in an Employer-Provided Bicycle Benefit must report the benefit as taxable income.
Telework and alternative work schedules (AWS) are increasingly popular ways to ease the challenges of commuting. These innovative business strategies allow work to be performed outside the office and outside of the traditional nine-to-five schedule, allowing for both increased productivity and better work-life balance. Get started with our Employer Telework Guide and contact goDCgo for complimentary support establishing and administering a telework policy or alternative work schedules at your office.
Telework, often referred to as working remotely, is a work arrangement that allows an employee to perform work at an approved alternate worksite. An increasingly popular option for DC-area employees, telework helps reduce commute stress, improve productivity and cut overhead costs.
Alternative work scheduling allows employees to shift work schedules to avoid rush hour, accommodate personal appointments or complete their work in fewer days. Flextime, compressed work weeks and staggered work hours are all types of alternative work schedules, each representing a different kind of adjustment to the traditional nine-to-five, eight-hours-a-day schedule.
Staggered work hours shift employees’ schedules from the normal starting time by 15 minutes or up to two hours, to help employees avoid rush-hour traffic congestion. Staggered schedules are determined on a departmental or individual basis:
Compressed schedules allow employees to complete their work hours over fewer days. Two schedule configurations are common:
Flexible scheduling allows employees to arrive or leave work at different times, giving more flexibility for appointments and responsibilities outside of the workplace.
A comprehensive step-by-step toolkit to help guide you through implementing a telework policy at your workplace.
Watch our webinar recording to understand alternative approaches to traditional work hours.
Watch our webinar series recording to learn about implementing a telework policy at your workplace, what to include in your policy, managing remote workers, and more.
goDCgo Transportation All-Stars
The goDCgo Transportation All-Star program recognizes DC organizations for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Employers, hotels, schools, and residential properties that offer robust transportation benefit programs and/or amenities can earn recognition for their efforts. Help your organization stand out in your industry by gaining an All-Star designation.
Encouraging your employees to bike is a great way to promote a healthy workforce and an environmentally-friendly travel mode. Develop a bike culture by hosting monthly bike commuter breakfasts, participating in the region’s Bike to Work Day celebrations and starting a Bike Buddy program to help novice cyclists learn from the veterans. From bike rack installation to employee bike benefits, contact goDCgo for complimentary support as you improve your organization’s bike appeal!
Employers may provide a bicycle benefit to cover bicycle-related expenses. Employees who participate in any employer-provided bicycle benefits program will have to report the benefit as taxable income.
Companies can make it easy for staff to bike to work, around town for meetings or just for fun. Each one-year employee membership includes unlimited 45-minute rides and is a low-cost benefit to add to your wellness initiatives and commute program. Learn more by downloading the flyer below or enroll now.
Prominently display helpful, informational materials to show your commitment to bike commuting. Request free DC Bike Maps, Capital Bikeshare brochures and bike safety guides for your front desk and new employee orientation packets.
Having a convenient place to shower and change clothes removes one barrier to biking. Work with your building management to add facilities or allow free access to gym locker rooms for bike commuters.
Secure bike parking for employees inside your building gives a rider peace of mind when they bike to work. Under DC’s Bike Parking Regulations, bike parking is required in all buildings with car parking. Submit a request to your building management team.
Placing bike racks in front of your business attracts customers and reduces the demand for parking. Standard bike racks are provided by DDOT at no cost, while custom art racks can be purchased for $500-$1,500. Request a free bike rack assessment from DDOT.
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) provides Everyday Biking Seminars* and Confident City Cycling classes. WABA can also customize a ride or class to support your organization’s unique location and culture. *Everyday Biking Seminars are free for Capital Bikeshare Corporate Members.
Installing a transit display in your reception area or lobby provides employees with real-time information about Capital Bikeshare bike and dock availability around your office. Contact TransitScreen® or Redmon Group to get started.
The goDCgo Transportation All-Star program recognizes DC organizations for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Employers, hotels, schools, and residential properties that offer robust transportation benefit programs and/or amenities can earn recognition for their efforts. Help your organization stand out in your industry by gaining an All-Star designation.
The League of American Bicyclists’ elite Bicycle-Friendly Business designation acknowledges organizations that promote biking as a healthy, sustainable and fun form of transportation. goDCgo can help you earn points towards the Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum designation through fun activities, better bike parking, customized messaging and more.
The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides commuters who regularly (twice a week) bike to work with a FREE reliable ride home, up to four times per year, for emergencies or unscheduled overtime. Maintain productivity, increase morale and continue the flow of business by encouraging participation in GRH. goDCgo can help you promote the program by providing customized marketing materials and hosting on-site events to answer questions regarding the service. Contact us for more information.
From commuter benefits to real-time transit displays, transit-friendly employer programs help maintain a competitive edge in today’s market while giving employees the work-life balance they need. Contact goDCgo for complimentary support creating a transit-friendly program that meets the unique needs of your organization.
Commuters can deduct up to $300 per month from their paycheck before taxes and use it towards Metrorail, bus, commuter rail and vanpool fares. Many employers choose to subsidize commuters’ transit fares or mix-and-match subsidies and pre-tax deductions. For more information, see Commuter Benefits section.
Displays provide real-time arrival and departure information specific to your office’s location. Make it easy for employees to catch the next bus or train by installing a real-time transit display in your reception area or lobby. Contact TransitScreen® or Redmon Group to get started.
Make the most of your transit-friendly location by prominently displaying transportation maps for employees and visitors. Request free Metrorail, bus, MARC and VRE brochures for your front desk and new employee orientation packets.
Employees can conveniently buy a SmarTrip® card online with any major credit or debit card. SmarTrip® cards can also be purchased at any Metrorail station or at Metro sales offices, retail outlets and commuter stores.
The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides commuters who regularly (twice a week) take transit to work with a FREE reliable ride home, up to four times per year, for emergencies or unscheduled overtime. Maintain productivity, increase morale and continue the flow of business by encouraging participation in GRH. goDCgo can help you promote the program by providing customized marketing materials and hosting on-site events to answer questions regarding the service. Contact us for more information.
Commuters who share the ride arrive to work less stressed and exhibit higher productivity. If you own or lease parking facilities for employees, each employee who carpools or vanpools could also save your company up to 9% on employee payroll taxes. Contact goDCgo for educational materials and assistance setting up a rideshare program and incentives at your office.
The most common form of ridesharing, carpooling is an arrangement by a group of commuters to drive together in one commuter’s personal car to their worksite(s). Carpools usually consist of individuals who live and work near each other and have the same schedule.
Vanpool commuters pay a monthly fare and drive together in a leased van to their worksite(s). Vanpools often originate at a park-and-ride lot and allow commuters to get the cost savings and convenience of public transit in areas with limited transit options. Vanpools are often the fastest and most cost-effective mode of travel for commuters traveling more than 15-20 miles to work.
The IRS allows vanpool commuters in minivans and full-size vans (seven to 15 passengers) to use commuter transit benefits toward vanpool fares. Employers may offer a pre-tax deduction or subsidy of up to $300 per month. Most regional vanpool providers accept SmartBenefits® as payment. For more information on setting up a vanpool program, see Commuter Benefits section.
Employers may offer an additional, taxable incentive to employees who carpool and do not qualify for existing transit or vanpool benefits programs.
Carpool and vanpool commuters can earn cash incentives through the Commuter Connections ‘Pool Rewards program for each day they share the ride. New carpools and vanpools can earn up to $150 per month for choosing to share a ride to work.
Conduct a survey or use employee zip codes to identify commuters who live near each other and would be willing to share the ride to work. Commuter Connections’ Ridematching service can also help find matches outside of your office.
Encourage employees to share the ride by reserving prime parking spaces or offering discounted parking to those who carpool or vanpool.
Show off your commitment to ridesharing by prominently displaying helpful informational materials in your reception area and in employee orientation packets. Request free Commuter Connections and vanpool provider brochures.
goDCgo Transportation All-Stars
The goDCgo Transportation All-Star program recognizes DC organizations for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Employers, hotels, schools, and residential properties that offer robust transportation benefit programs and/or amenities can earn recognition for their efforts. Help your organization stand out in your industry by gaining an All-Star designation.
The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides commuters who regularly (twice a week) take transit to work with a FREE reliable ride home, up to four times per year, for emergencies or unscheduled overtime. Maintain productivity, increase morale and continue the flow of business by encouraging participation in GRH. goDCgo can help you promote the program by providing customized marketing materials and hosting on-site events to answer questions regarding the service. Contact us for more information.
Walking programs are a great way to energize and motivate your employees while cutting down on insurance and health care costs. Help your employees choose the healthiest, most sustainable mode of transportation there is—their own two feet! After all, the District has been designated a Gold-level Walk-Friendly Community. From supplemental commuter benefits to walking meetings and company-wide walk challenges, there’s a lot your organization can do to encourage walking to or during work. Contact goDCgo for complimentary resources, information and services to build a custom walking program at your workplace.
Prominently display helpful, informational materials to encourage walking to or during work. Request free walking brochures and pedestrian safety guides for your front desk and new employee orientation packets.
Having a convenient place to shower and change clothes encourages employees to walk or run to the office. Work with your building management to add facilities or allow free access to gym locker rooms.
Health and transportation fairs are the perfect opportunity to distribute information about walking initiatives, groups and meetups. Request goDCgo attendance for help answering questions at your event.
These national workplace walking programs offer ready-made resources to help establish your business as a walk-friendly workplace.
Established by BlueCross BlueShield, WalkingWorks provides guidelines, resources and tips to help motivate employees to integrate walking into their everyday routine.
Start! The American Heart Association’s workplace walking program helps companies encourage employees to walk by setting up walking routes and routines.
Every Body Walk focuses on working walking into all aspects of daily life. This site provides resources to promote walking at your workplace, including a walking pledge, helpful maps and health information.
Held annually on the first Friday in April, National Walk to Work Day encourages participants to walk for all or part of their commute.
Organized by BlueCross BlueShield and held on the last Wednesday in April, National Walk at Lunch Day aims to establish new workplace walking routines, helping employees improve their health step-by-step.
The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides commuters who regularly (twice a week) take transit to work with a FREE reliable ride home, up to four times per year, for emergencies or unscheduled overtime. Maintain productivity, increase morale and continue the flow of business by encouraging participation in GRH. goDCgo can help you promote the program by providing customized marketing materials and hosting on-site events to answer questions regarding the service. Contact us for more information.
Employers who provide free or subsidized parking may offer employees a taxable cash payment in lieu of a parking space. This flexible commuter benefit, often referred to as a parking cash-out, encourages employees to use alternative commute modes and helps reduce a company’s parking costs. Offering daily parking rates, as opposed to weekly or monthly passes, also allows employees flexibility to adjust their daily travel choices to work. Contact goDCgo for complimentary support establishing and administering parking management strategies at your office.
The DC Parking Cashout Law, also known as the DC Transportation Benefits Equity Act of 2020, requires businesses in DC with 20 or more employees that lease their parking to either offer a Clean Air Fringe Benefit to employees receiving a free or reduced-cost parking space at work, develop a transportation demand management plan, or pay a Clean Air Compliance fee.
Parking cashout is a type of commuter benefit where an employer offers their employees the option to receive monetary compensation in lieu of a free or subsidized parking space. In the DC Parking Cashout Law, employers must specifically offer a Clean Air Transportation Fringe Benefit equal to or greater than the cost of their parking subsidy, meaning that a parking space valued at $250 per month would equal to a $250 cash subsidy in lieu of the parking space to the employee from the employer
DC PARKING CASHOUT EMPLOYER FLYER
DC PARKING CASHOUT EMPLOYEE INFOGRAPHIC
WEBINAR: Complying with DC Parking Cashout Law
The goDCgo Transportation All-Star program recognizes DC organizations for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Employers, hotels, schools, and residential properties that offer robust transportation benefit programs and/or amenities can earn recognition for their efforts. Help your organization stand out in your industry by gaining an All-Star designation.
Jessica helps manage the Employer Services Program, working with District employers find sustainable transportation to their commuting challenges. She loves the DC area and people, and is passionate about making this region even more sustainable, accessible, and equitable. Contact Jessica regarding any employer commuting questions, comments, or concerns.
Employer Outreach Coordinator
Doriann helps manage the Employers Services Program, working with District employers find sustainable transportation to their commuting challenges. She wants to make DC an event better place to live, work and play by making sustainable transportation easy and accessible. Call Doriann with your commuter benefit questions.
202.643.3114
Employer Outreach Coordinator
Get in touch to take advantage of our complimentary services. We’ll work together to create a commute-friendly workplace for your employees.
Subscribe to the goDCgo Employer Newsletter to receive the latest news about what’s happening with commuter benefits in DC!
2022 Employer Ambassador Awards
The Employer Ambassador Awards is an annual ceremony hosted by goDCgo to recognize DC organizations for their exceptional commitment in promoting sustainable transportation and creating commuter-friendly workplaces. Check out this year’s awardees!
In April 2020, the Transportation Benefits Equity Amendment Act of 2020, also referred to as the DC Parking Cashout Law was signed into law by Mayor Bowser . This law encourages sustainable transportation use and reduces driving alone to work in DC. As the first reporting deadline nears, goDCgo is here to help employers understand the law and become compliant. Read on to learn the most important things you need to know about this law.
As many employers have transitioned back to the worksite, the four-day work week has become a popular topic. In fact, the number of ZipRecruiter jobs that mention four-day work weeks is up 67% this year. This comes as no surprise to employers watching the trends, as 66% of US workers report wanting to work fewer than 5 days a week, and 85% approve of moving to a four-day work week. In addition to the four-day work week’s favorability among employees, there are many pilots occurring globally in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and some in the United States that are showing the four-day work week is beneficial for companies and management; reporting increases in productivity, greater ability to attract and retain talent, and improvements in company loyalty.
According to ADP Research Institute, 64% of workers would rather quit their jobs than return to an office full time. For anyone who’s been following the shift to remote work over the past two years, this should come as no surprise. Working from home has saved employees time and money, and maintained productivity. However, some employees still yearn for the social aspect of the office and worry about missing out on promotions and leadership roles without the office setting. This is where a hybrid schedule can give employees and managers the best of both worlds.
Thankfully, 35% of DC employers are listening to their employees and are working to create and implement hybrid work schedules as employees return to the office this summer. But transitioning to a hybrid schedule isn’t as easy as you may think. For a smooth transition, employers need to audit their policies and consider that after two years of working from home, pre-pandemic in-office policies can’t just be resurrected without evaluation. Companies need to assess their new hybrid work situation and address the challenges it brings regarding commuter benefits, regional emergency ride programs, and complying with local DC transportation ordinances. Creating a new hybrid policy from scratch may sound like a heavy lift, but if you follow our list of items to consider below, you’ll be off to a great start.
Be Clear About When and Why Employees Should Be in Office
About 38% of hybrid employees say their biggest challenge in the past few months was knowing when and why they should come into the office. Is this something you have outlined in your hybrid work policy? Possibly not, as only 28% of leaders report including it in their policies. Make sure you have clear and direct instructions on when employees should come into the office. Should they be in for important meetings? On a certain day? If they need to access certain equipment? Use examples and include the “why” behind these in-office requirements.
Make Sure You’re Still Compliant with DC Laws
DC has two local ordinances that apply to employers in the District: the DC Commuter Benefits Law and the DC Parking Cashout Law. If you meet the base qualifications of these laws, you must comply with them even if your employees are on a hybrid work schedule. Our employer team can help you navigate and comply with these laws.
Supplement Guaranteed Ride Home
The regional Guaranteed Ride Home program, run by Commuter Connections, requires employees to commute by transit, carpool, bike, walking, or scooter at least two times a week to qualify for the program. For many only going back to the office 1 day a week, they are unable to use this benefit. If you have employees who only work from the office one day a week, you can supplement the regional program by covering rides for unexpected overtime and emergencies. Talk to our employer team to learn how.
Remind Employees About Commuter Benefit Flexibility
Unlike other health care, commuter benefits aren’t restricted to open enrollment. Although most admin and HR departments are aware of this, your employees may not be. Make sure you remind your employees regularly that they can enroll, adjust their allocation, or pause their commuter benefits at any time.
Fully Subsidize Transit Costs to Encourage In-Office Work
If your office is operating on a hybrid schedule but management would like employees to come into the office more frequently, fully subsidizing transit costs can help you achieve this goal. By fully subsidizing transit costs, you remove one of the barriers of coming into the office. This can easily be done through WMATA’s SmartBenefits system, and the best part is that this type of transit subsidy will be refunded to you if not used.
Encourage a Variety of Sustainable Commuting Options
Fear of taking public transit due to COVID-19 has led to many workers choosing to drive to work when they would normally take transit pre-pandemic. It’s important to let your employees know they have options like carpool apps, biking, or walking. You can even encourage these behaviors through a bike subsidy/monthly bike benefit, walking benefit, or free parking for carpools. Our employer services team can help you set up benefits and incentives like these.
To continue to improve air quality and reduce the number of commuters driving to work in the District, an amendment to the Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2014 was signed into law by Mayor Bowser in April 2020. The new law titled Transportation Benefits Equity Amendment Act of 2020 requires all employers who offer free or subsidized parking benefits and have 20 or more employees to comply with the law and submit a report to DDOT. New regulations can be confusing for impacted businesses and goDCgo is here to help your organization become compliant.
In honor of this year's Black History Month, goDCgo wants to shine a spotlight on some of the African American leaders and professionals who help shape transportation in the District today. From city infrastructure, sustainable transportation promotions, transit operations, vehicle management, road safety, bike education, and much more, they're involved in nearly every aspect of DC's transportation systems and make a strong impact on the commute options that we use every day including Capital Bikeshare, DC Circulator, Metrobus, Metrorail, and even personal bike riding experiences.
Do you work hard as an organization to ease your employee’s commutes through commuter benefits, on-site amenities, and promotion of sustainable transportation? If so, goDCgo and Best Workplaces for Commuters are here to help you get the recognition you deserve and showcase your organization as a leader in sustainable transportation.
As teleworking continues into the new year, many remote employees are looking for space outside of their home or hotel rooms to telework occasionally or on a regular basis. Whether you need a change of scenery, to get away from distractions at home, or are visiting the area and need a place to work, the District has many free teleworking spaces that residents, commuters, and visitors can use.
As an initiative of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), goDCgo's top priority is to encourage the use of sustainable transportation among DC commuters, residents, and visitors by providing complimentary resources and consulting services that help raise awareness and educate the public about the many ways to get around the city besides driving alone. Our goal serves to decrease traffic congestion, improve air quality, and create a better quality of life for everyone in the DC area.
Thank you and congratulations to all the DC employers and commuters who participated in the goDCgo Commuter Challenge! Participating organizations included GoRove Slade, Brookfield Properties, American College of Cardiology, Ballard Spahr LLP, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), So Others Might Eat (SOME), and Washington Gas. This year, commuters that were unaffiliated with a participating employer were also allowed to sign up. We hope everyone enjoyed the competition and was inspired to turn this challenge into a lifestyle.
The District of Columbia has officially re-opened and many organizations and businesses are planning their transition back to the physical worksite. As more employees return to their regular commute, there are many ways that you can help increase their confidence in using public transit again.
While employees are planning their trips to work, they may have questions about reinstating their pre-tax benefits or subsidies for transit or vanpools. Additionally, over the past year, we've received some questions related to DC Commuter Benefits Law compliance that we've addressed below in order to help you meet those requirements.
