Why employers should back the eBike
If you’re a cycling enthusiast, it’s likely that you know all about electric bikes and their benefits – and you may even be eyeing one up yourself. But are your employers on board?
There are actually many reasons for employers to support the e-bike and to encourage their employees to take up cycling. You can demonstrate a corporate responsibility while also promoting great wellbeing for your employees.
Here’s why employers should back the e-bike.
- CARBON FOOTPRINT
The total cost of the carbon emissions for car trips made in the UK each year is £3.98 billion. As employers, it should be a priority to be considering the carbon footprint your business or company is creating. From things like the emissions that your company directly contributes through the work that you do, to the ways that your employees travel to work, your environmental responsibility is something to consider.
By encouraging your employees to cycle to work using an electric bike, you are ensuring that your company is contributing less carbon emissions to the environment by avoiding car and public transport travel. This is great for both employers and employees, knowing that they’re consciously minimising their impact on the environment.
- EMPLOYEE WELL BEING
While the environment is incredibly important – as an employer, the well being of your employees is going to be one of your top priorities. Making sure that your employees are happy and supported at work is vital – and encouraging them to utilise an electric bike for their work commutes will go a long way towards that.
Exercise produces endorphins, which means that encouraging your employees to cycle to work will help them to feel great while starting their day.
Employees who cycle to work will be healthier, physically fitter and also – according to a National Cycle Network survey – are likely to take less sick days as a result; nearly half in fact.
- TIMEKEEPING
Another practical benefit for employers to back the e-bike is that they should see the timekeeping of their staff improve immensely.
When you’re commuting via public transport, or by car, you’re relying on several factors to go your way to get to work on time – congestion, accidents, delays and cancellations can all see your staff arriving late.
When commuting by e-bike, your staff will avoid all of the above, and will be in complete control of their own timekeeping, allowing them to show up right on time.
- CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME
Arguably the biggest benefit to employers when backing the use of e-bikes is the cycle to work scheme that’s available for all business owners.
The cycle to work scheme is a salary sacrifice scheme whereby employees can save 25-29% of the cost of a new bike and accessories while spreading the cost, taking a salary sacrifice to do so. After 12 months the employer will have recovered their costs and generated up to 13.8% in savings.
The salary sacrifice is taken from their gross salary (before tax) which means that the employee will pay less Income Tax and National Insurance (NI) and that the employer will reduce their National Insurance Contributions (NICs) bill.
When employers back the e-bike and encourage their employees to cycle to and from work they are not only creating an environment which greatly benefits employees, but benefits the business too.
If you’re looking for a high-quality e-bike, then the Avaris 3.6 eBike is a great place to start.