Synopsis of "Going Green" by Kathryn Tyler

Green Recruitment & Retention

Global warming, high gas prices, longer commutes and air pollution are providing opportunity for some companies. With more and more people jumping on the environmental band wagon, select companies are focusing on creating an environmentally friendly image and focusing on recruiting and retaining environmentally aware employees. One way these companies have found to accomplish these goals are to offer subsidies for employees who purchase hybrid or fuel efficient vehicles. In the article Going Green, by Kathryn Tyler, she talks about the benefits of these programs for employers, the benefits for employees and aspects to consider when institute a hybrid incentive program.

Employers claim the benefits of a hybrid incentive program are not purely financial. Rather it offers recruitment and retention benefits and helps a company portray an environmentally aware image. There are several ways these programs help retention. First, many companies require an employee to be employed for at least a year before being eligible. Second, often companies require that the employee keep the car for a specified period of time or they offer the employee a five year forgivable loan. Finally, reducing the cost of commuting to work seems to keep employees happy, contributing to better retention. Companies may also receive tax credits for their programs. For others the knowledge that they're helping offsetting the price premium on the technology of hybrid vehicle is incentive enough.