Program project manager points to employee options that won the county the distinction
Sarasota County has been named one of 2021’s Best Workplaces for Commuters “for offering exceptional commuter benefits that meet the National Standard of Excellence criteria,” the county has announced.
Julie Bond, project manager for the Best Workplace for Commuters, said Sarasota County earned the distinction for providing employees options such as the following, a news release says:
- Premier parking spaces and free charging for electric vehicles for the public, as well as employees.
- Carpool incentives, including front-row parking spaces at multiple county locations.
- Bicycle repair stations throughout the county.
- Free, regular Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) bus rides for all county employees.
“Sarasota County gives its employees the support they need to get to and from work and be at their best before, during, and after their workday,” Bond pointed out in the release.
“This national designation demonstrates one of our goals of being an innovative organization,” said County Administrator Jonathan Lewis in the release. “Our commuter benefits help give us a competitive edge in employee recruitment and retention, and saves employees time, money and stress.”
“The Best Workplaces for Commuters program offers designated organizations access to a range of support services to assess and promote non-driving commuting of employees, including organizational assessment and implementation tool-kits, web-based tools and webinars, staff training, and information exchange,” the release notes.
“The companies on this list recognize and embrace the beneficial outcomes commuter benefits have on their employees and the positive impact to the environment. It lifts productivity and brand recognition in an increasingly competitive marketplace,” Bond added in the release.
On its website, the Best Workplaces for Commuters explains that, to qualify for the National Standard of Excellence, “an employer must offer one (1) primary benefit, such as employer-paid tax-free transit or vanpool passes, teleworking, or parking cash-out (enabling workers to trade free parking for its cash equivalent) [emphasis from the program website].”
Further, it says, “Employers must also offer three (3) secondary benefits, choosing from options such as shuttles to and from transit stations (provided directly by the employer or contracted through a service), ridesharing or carpool matching, preferred or reduced-cost parking for carpools and vanpools, and compressed work schedules.”
Among other Sarasota County entities on the 2021 list are the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System; various divisions of the City of Sarasota, including City Hall, the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and the Sarasota Police Department; and the City of North Port.
For more information about employment opportunities with Sarasota County, call the county Contact Center at 941-861-5000 or visit scgov.net.