October 2006 | Volume 1 | Issue 19

In this issue:

• From the Desk of Dr. M...
• Something to Think About
• Feature Article
• Pass it On...
• Health Tips
• Cost Cutters
• Dr. M Recommends
• What's Happening

FROM THE DESK OF DR. M...

Tomorrow is Halloween, an event that is becoming more popular with each year. I hope you get home in time to answer the trick-or-treaters. Don't want your house wrapped in toilet paper, you know!

In this issue we talk about the effect of the commute on the company. I decided to address this because, I think, many times we think government and corporation is being magnanimous by giving out these commuter benefits.

No, we're all in this together, the commuter, the corporation and the community. It affects us all in many ways. I hope this issue gives everyone pause to consider the high cost of the commute.

In the feature article, “Good news from business,” we discuss what business has been doing about the commute and what it means to us all.

In our Health section, we call on all companies and commuters to do something about this monster, the commute. It has become bloated and it’s time to stick a pin in it and get it under our control.

In Something to Think About, we quote some experts in the area who ask us to question the whole idea of why we commute.

We know the commute will not leave us any time soon, but with good goal setting and other techniques that you’ll find on the web site, we can make the commute something that works for us, not against us.

Hope you enjoy the issue and remember to pass it on, especially to your bosses.

Be well!
Dr. M.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

"The cost of commuting is becoming greater and greater as more people join the exodus from populated areas. Commuting from suburb to suburb is also on the increase as companies, too, look for less expensive land and conditions. It appears they take the problems with them, as do their employees. Time to reassess.

Commuting can lead to stressed-out employees and a stressed environment."
~Stephen L. Johnson, EPA administrator

"Unfortunately, there are several hidden costs of commuting that are overlooked both by the government and by the commuters themselves. The most obvious one is time wasted in commuting. Apart from the time lost, increased absence from home hurts the family's social life. Commuting is stressful too; hence, it imposes psychological costs. In addition, commuting wastes energy, pollutes and destroys neighbourliness if for no other reason because neighbours have little time or scope to get to know one another."
~ P.V.Indiresan

PASS IT ON...

A couple months ago we started our Pass It On campaign and we asked you to help us get Commuter-Assist.com known to those we serve.  We are happy to report that you are hearing our request.

We thank you.  We are very aware that nothing can happen without you .  All are work is for naught without you.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Good News from Business

The old saw is that you can’t get business to move on something unless it affects the bottom line. That may be so, although I've known many business people with big hearts and open pocketbooks, my father being one of them. But they do have a responsibility to keep their companies healthy.

Change comes slowly and no one wants to be the first to try something new. This is especially so when it comes to what might be considered “extras” in business. They may cost a lot to start and results may not be seen for many months or even years.

There was a time when companies provided housing, for a fee, for their employees. Some, the Alaska pipe line companies come to mind, still do. But for the most part, that is a thing for history.

What companies have been doing, however, is to provide their employees with ways to cut down on the expense and wear and tear on their cars and themselves that long distance commuting causes. Together with government, they are providing tax credits, ride shares, public transportation and, in some instances, work based at home rather than in the office.

For many employees, these programs have been very helpful. They have given relief from the monotony of travel, helped with the cost of commuting, and with telecommuting, given back time that the commute has been robbing away.

The negative effects of commuting and the need to get corporations involved in making changes has been addressed by the U.S. government through “Best Workplaces for Commuters.” In 2001, 360,000 commuters were served through this program. Today, 3,600,000 are served by over 1,800 companies who have partnered with Best Workplaces.

Most commuters, even those who use other forms of transportation as well, use their cars at least for part of the commute. Because of this, “rush hour” now continues for six to seven hours a day, congestion consumes $63.1 billion a year, wasted fuel from engine idling in traffic jams totals 2.3 billion gallons and total amount of delay reached 3.7 billion hours in 2003, according to Best Workplaces statistics. The human toll has not been tracked as yet.

Best Workplaces also surveyed commuters on their attitudes and behaviors and found that 85% of the more than 3 million respondents reported commuting considerations to be important or very important in determining where they work or look for work. Sixty-eight percent of those respondents reported a positive attitudinal shift after becoming aware that their employers offered commuter benefits. Commuters also anticipated taking advantage of commuter benefits if they were offered by their employers (25%) and 57% expressed an interest in working for a company that would offer commuter benefits.

More companies are becoming aware that to keep valued employees, they must address the commute. They have also become aware that this problem stretches from entry-level employees to the very top of the company.

It may be the daily commute in a car, bus, train or ferry. But it may also be the weekly or monthly commute via plane that saps the employee.

The concern over commuting started with the realization that commutes take money, sometimes quite a lot of money and cause environmental problems such as air pollution and traffic jams.

More slowly, there has begun to be a realization that commuting also costs work time (commuters call in sick more often than non-commuters), work quality (commuters come in tired from the commute and focus and concentration may be compromised), and loss of valuable trained employees (commuters will seek employment closer to their homes, if they can).

These difficulties are not resolved by providing commuter tax credits, ride shares, transit or vanpool passes because the time on the road rarely changes significantly because of these adjustments.

The next phase needed in assisting commuters is taking on the stress of commuting that leads to these difficulties.

“Many people who live and work in a small town have no idea of the stress that commuting to work adds to your day. For those who commute to jobs by driving or by trains, or busses, can often add 2 hours or more to their workday. Dr. Mastria has developed a masterful guide to assist commuters in turning the chore into an opportunity. This e-book and accompanying workbook offer very practical tips and wisdom to make a commuters time going to and from work, a learning experience and even a joyful experience. This book can be a guide to sanity for millions of commuters who can find renewed energy instead of feeling drained and exhausted, assisting them in thriving in life, not just surviving.”
~ Dr. Patrick Williams
Master Certified Coach
CEO, Inst for Life Coach Training

Conquer the Commute: Tools for the Road and Life is now for sale. You can go to the Commuter-Assist.com web site or to Conquer the Commute to purchase it. The cost is just $37.00 and we have added some very nice bonuses which will only be available to a limited few. So go now to buy the ebook and please do let us know how you like it.