Applications are now being accepted for the 2016 New Jersey Smart Workplaces (NJSW) awards. NJSW recognizes and honors employers who help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by providing commuter benefits to employees. Employers of all sizes are eligible to apply. Applying is easy and chances are that employers already provide some of the things that qualify them for this designation. Employers are recognized at one of four levels of achievement: bronze, silver, gold or platinum based upon the programs offered at the worksite.
Bronze Level
Employers must complete FOUR of the following activities:
- Establish and maintain a relationship with a local Transportation Management Association (TMA).
- Designate an on-site point of contact for employee commute inquiries.
- Place alternative commute information in new-hire packets. (Contact us at tma@gmtma.org to receive alternative commute information)
- Encourage employees to register for TMA traffic alerts or 511NJ.org or disseminate traffic alerts to your employees.
- Provide access to a site-specific commuter information display.
- Regularly promote commute options and TMA incentives through regular memos, postings, e-mail, Intranet or other employee communications.
- Encourage employees to register their alternate commute with a local TMA.
- Host at least one commuter information event at your worksite.
- Host at least one vanpool or carpool formation meeting at your worksite.
- Host at least one TMA Lunch and Learn presentation.
- Offer an informal flextime program.
- Offer an informal telecommuting program.
- Working with a TMA, conduct an employee commute survey.
Silver Level
Employers must achieve Bronze and complete three of the following activities:
- Host or sponsor TMA events/programs such as National Bike to Work Month, National Walk Month, Car Free Week, or Distracted Driving Awareness Week at the worksite.
- Provide financial or staff assistance for TMA-sponsored community events.
- Host two or more commuter information events at your worksite.
- Host two or more TMA Lunch and Learn presentations.
- Host two or more on-site vanpool/carpool formation meetings.
- Provide a designated outdoor bicycle parking area or an appropriate indoor area.
- Provide employees access to basic bike maintenance tools.
- Provide preferential parking for vanpoolers or carpoolers.
- Offer a formal flextime program.
- Offer a formal telecommuting program.
- Offer a formal compressed workweek policy.
- Provide pretax payroll deductions for commuting cost for employees (vanpool, transit and/or bicycle commuters).
- Provide Emergency Ride Home for employees who have exceeded the maximum number of TMA-provided rides.
- Sell transit passes on site.
- Provide on-site amenities such as food service, dry cleaner, ATM/bank, sundries or showers.
- Implement a teleconference policy.
Gold Level
Employers must achieve FIVE Bronze Level activities and five Silver Level activities.
- have met the requirements for the Gold Level NJ Smart Workspace.
Platinum Level
Employers must achieve Gold and implement a comprehensive site-specific alternative commute program such as:
- Telework or compressed work week program that reduces commute trips by 3%.
- A monthly employer subsidy toward transit passes.
- A monthly employer subsidy/benefit for employees who carpool or vanpool.
- Partnering with local gyms, Ys, or other groups to provide off-site showers.
- Supplement parking by partnering with local organizations to create private park and rides.
- Provide fleet of bicycles for employee use or rental.
- Provide an employer-subsidized shuttle.
- Provide electric vehicles for employee business use.
- Provide electric vehicles and charging stations for employee use.
- Contact your TMA for more suggestions.
The program is a partnership of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Association and the state’s Transportation Management Associations (TMAs). Greater Mercer TMA is the program’s coordinator in Mercer and Ocean counties.
There are no costs associated with this prestigious designation and all awardees will be featured on our website. Go to www.gmtma.org to register online.
If you are not sure you qualify or you have questions about the program, please contact us at tma@gmtma.org . All NJSW awardees will be recognized at Greater Mercer TMA’s Annual Luncheon in October.