How to make it illegal for employers not to offer bike racks and showers - Essay Example

Lecturer Probike Introduction Probike is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) whose main purpose is supporting staff cycling.Supporting staff cycling shows commitment towards a healthy workplace which enhances performance of organizations. This campaign targets both employers and employees in the United States of America and worldwide. Cycling is necessary for the success of any organization or business, and it has many benefits to the stakeholders of the organization like employer, employees and customers. Current state of workplace cycling campaign The major benefit to employers is that healthy employees take fewer sick leaves and are more productive at the workplace. The health of employees is improved because cycling is a form of physical exercise which lowers blood pressure of people, improves weight control and improves the condition of the heart and lungs. Cycling employees are also very alert and they experience lower stress levels. Employees also arrive at work on or in time because cyclists are freed from traffic jams. Staff cycling also lowers direct costs of employers. Employees also travel cheaply using shared bicycles at the workplace; hence savings is made on bus fares, taxi costs and care hire expenses. The organization also benefits from cheaper parking costs, this is because the cost of parking one car can adequately meet parking costs for more that 10 bicycles. Encouraging cycling also reduces company car expenses because giving a bicycle and incentives make employees to forego company car. Cycling also builds a greener corporate image; this is because companies encouraging staff cycling reduce effects of road congestion and associated air pollution. Employees also benefit from cycling in various ways. Staff cycling lowers the cost of employee travel; this is because the buying price of a bicycle is much less than the buying price of a car, cycling saves car parking fees, and employees incur less petrol bills and bus passes. Cycling ensures better health of employees; cycling is a form of physical exercise which reduces anxiety and stress levels. Regular cycling sessions can also reduce the risks of heart diseases by up to 50%. The fitness level of regular cyclists is equivalent to that of a person 10 years younger (Taylar, 1999). Cycling to work makes a country less polluted, quieter and safer. Cycling is also fun; this is because riding through a park gives a person pleasure and fresh air. Objectives of the campaign The employee cycling campaign intents to fulfill the following three main targets effectively and efficiently: The first objective is; to create public awareness on the benefits of cycling to employees and employers through the mass media, print media and social media; for example cycling is a cheaper means of employee transport. The second objective is; to convince the government to put adequate favorable legislations on workplace cycling; for example mandatory installation of cycling facilities in all workplaces. The third objective is; to ensure all employers have a Staff Cycling policy or guideline; this ensures that staff health and safety is guaranteed during cycling process. Campaign strategy The staff cycling campaign will involve the efforts of celebrities and public figures. We intend to enlist the services of top actors, musicians, sports men and women, and politicians; in demonstration of the benefits of cycling; through the mass media. For example, the public figures and celebrities will post picture and statements in the social media facebook and twitter on how regularly they cycle, and the benefits of cycling exercise. The identified personalities will also feature in television adverts encouraging staff cycling. The adverts will show the cycling to their work stations and then having a shower before embarking on their day’s work. Public figures will also write articles in the print media (newspapers, magazine and journals) explaining their opinions on benefits they derive from cycling to work. For laws favoring staff cycling to be passed by the government, Probike will take legislatures through health training sessions. The training will aim at convincing the legislatures to support staff cycling legislations due to its physical exercise quality and pollution reduction capabilities. The legislators will also be encouraged to lead by example through cycling to parliament for two weeks consecutively. Cycling is a form of green energy which does not emit harmful gases and material into the atmosphere or environment. Cycling exercise relieves stress, anxiety and depression; and also reduces cases of heart diseases. Probike has drafted a Staff Cycling policy which can be used by any employer at the workplace. However, employers can also make their own policy as long as it adheres to provisions of the Employee Cycling legislations. To achieve this end, Probike will also conduct training sessions for employers on making a workplace policy on cycling. This training will be provided for free (voluntary) by Probike; based on its Corporate Social Responsibility program. The staff cycling policy of Probike can also be used as a benchmark during making favorable cycling legislations by the law makers. Campaign tactics This involves communicating our campaign ideas effectively and efficiently to all stakeholders. The cabinet secretaries in charge of the labor and health dockets will hold a joint press briefing to briefly explain contents of the Staff Cycling legislations. They will also field questions from interested parties to further explain importance of employee cycling program. All stakeholders of Probike campaign will also participate in a peaceful campaign demonstration; the aim of the demonstration is to ensure support of cycling in the workplace by the government, employers and employees. Advertisement and publicity of the staff cycling program will be extensive in the mass media to create awareness. Campaign administration This project will operate under the constraints of cost, time, labor and other relevant resources. The activities of co-coordinating the cycling campaign will be spearheaded by the staffs of Probike. The organization has competent; Campaign / Project manager in charge of general management of the campaign, Accountant responsible for financial administration, Public Relations Officer in charge of communicating with members of the public, Legal Officer responsible for favorable legislations, Events Organizer who oversees campaign event, and other support staff. The staff cycling awareness campaign will take duration of six months, from 1st July, 2014 to 31st December, 2014 (Taylar, 1999). Financial resources for this project will be got from campaign sponsors, for example the World Bank has pledged $250,000 to support the exercise; and corporate firms operating in the USA have pledged a total of $250,000; as part of Corporate Social Responsibility, through their umbrella body. Financial breakdown is as explained in US$: media advertisement costs; 150,000; campaign entertainment cost 100,000; travel and accommodation costs 100,000; labor costs 100,000; and legal costs 50,000. Other extra cost which will be incurred in the exercise will be met Probike; it has a budgetary allocation of $100,000 for the campaigns. Other relevant resources like vehicles, campaign posters, computers and communication facilities will be provided by Probike. Campaign Results The major output expected from the project is extensive mass media coverage, which will create enough publicity and awareness on the benefits of employee cycling at the workplace. The major outcome expected from the campaign is the government making and reviewing legislations concerning workplace cycling. The impact most important expected from staff cycling awareness is the implementation of cycling legislations, by employers, in the workplace; through making a cycling policy and providing cycling facilities like bike racks and showers at the workplace. Conclusion During the process of implementing workplace cycling policy; employers must come up with a workplace cycle plan. The plan explains the procedures of improving workplace facilities for cycling, and cycling numbers. These facilities include; change rooms, bicycle repair equipment, showers which the cyclist can use to clean and freshen-up for work, and bicycle parking space. Bibliography Taylar, Anne (1999) Good Practice Guide – Cycle Friendly Employers Scheme, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Read More