Marinucci: Consider covering commuting costs for workers

Curtailing the cost of commuting to work is a practical perk for deserving employees.

Defraying driving expenses is timely because rising costs are straining motorists' budgets — including people driving to jobs at automotive service facilities.

Deserving employees, meanwhile, may constitute some or all of the staff at your tire dealership or service shop.

Let's discuss reasons for funding workers' commute and potential ways to do it.

First of all, bosses may help out with driving expenses simply because they believe it is a significant, generous gesture; they expect nothing more than a heartfelt thank you from each employee who accepts their help.

Bosses also may provide tangible assistance during tough times to remind employees that they have their backs — hopefully strengthening their working relationship with the crew.

If fortifying this relationship with the staff also improves employee loyalty, all the better.

Loyalty matters because it reduces employee turnover. Remember that retaining capable, conscientious workers usually costs considerably less money than recruiting and grooming new employees.

Owners and managers may offer assistance on driving expenses as a bonus for exceptional employees — those who unflinchingly go beyond the call of duty to satisfy customers and coach co-workers.

A stellar employee who endures a difficult commute as well as extenuating personal circumstances surely deserves consideration. For example, a dedicated worker may be facing unforeseen medical expenses.

Rising expenses combined with major medical expenses may be pushing this valuable employee toward a nervous breakdown.

Some owners and managers may offer financial help to all employees to prevent potential complaints about favoritism.

(Realistically, some workers would gripe about whatever assistance plan the boss created but one cantankerous employee should not discourage owners and managers from taking action.)

Opportunities to reduce employees' commuting expenses vary from one auto service facility to another and from one locale to another. Possibly one or more of these suggestions apply to your tire dealership or service shop.

Consider revamping your business hours into a tighter, more-efficient schedule than the existing one. For example, operate for five relatively long days and close on Saturday.

Promote the schedule of long weekday hours to your customer base. Eventually you may find that Saturday hours were not as important to them as you thought.

Closing on Saturday may mean more than just saving employees a commute to and from the shop. After monitoring the results, some owners and managers have found that their businesses were as profitable — if not more profitable — operating five days instead of six.

Do not overlook public transportation as it may be a more-practical commuting option than anyone at your business realized.

Do not force workers to reach into their own pockets for bus, trolley or train fares. Instead, purchase the appropriate transit pass for the employee(s).

Where practical and possible, tweak work schedules to accommodate workers who rely on public transportation.

Look for carpool opportunities within your workforce. Perhaps incentivize carpooling by providing a gasoline credit card for carpool participants.

Some tire dealers and service shop operators have strong working relationships with local fuel stations. It may make sense to establish direct billing with one of those stations specifically for carpooling employees.

The most-meaningful help for an employee may be a reliable and reasonably fuel-efficient vehicle. For example, a worker may be getting by with a mechanically marginal vehicle.

To make matters worse, this car did not deliver good fuel economy when it was in its prime. Repairing it may be a waste of time and money.

In other cases, a worker may be hamstrung with a reasonably reliable vehicle that happens to devour fuel.

For one thing, underwriting the cost of a much-needed engine overhaul on a worker's fuel-efficient car may be worthwhile for the boss and the employee.

For another, a boss also should weigh the benefits of buying a basic, fuel-efficient vehicle for a needy employee — especially someone who organizes and manages a carpool.

Long-term, outfitting a conscientious worker with trustworthy wheels may be a smart investment in the business' profitability.

There are various ways to plan and execute this transaction. Work out specific details and responsibilities with the employee regarding this vehicle.

For example, a boss may just "gift" this vehicle to a stellar employee, requiring the person to cover registration, insurance, fuel and upkeep thereafter.

Sometimes a team effort creates an affordable, appropriate commuter car. For example, the entire crew watches for a smart buy on a "needy" but fuel-efficient vehicle: Its body and interior are fine but it needs major mechanical repairs.

When they locate such a deal, the boss buys it. Then the store's technicians gradually perform chores such as overhauling the brake system, rebuilding the engine, replacing the transmission, etc.

For far less than market value, then, this dealership or shop hatches a reliable, efficient carpool and/or commuter car that will last for years.

For your information, this overall method is nothing new. Over the years, I have seen shops create loaner vehicles — as well as cars for needy employees — via this same approach.

Many commutes involve limited-access roadways equipped with automatic toll-taking machinery. A boss may reduce driving expenses by fitting an employee's vehicle with a wireless toll transponder, opening an account on a company credit card and paying for the commute's tools. Tolls add up — ask anyone who pays them.

Your tire dealership or service shop already may be taking steps to defray workers' driving expenses. By all means, let me know what you are doing in this regard.

Finally, keep employee loyalty in mind during tough economic times. Giving a little, it is said, may earn you a lot.