2023-07-12 19:18:31
Some companies give extra days off to employees who opt for sustainable transportation while on vacation. The trend comes from the United Kingdom and begins to settle in Switzerland.
Vacation time has come for Sébastien Chahidi. This certification manager at B Lab Switzerland chose London as his vacation destination. This year, he will travel by train from Lausanne. By choosing this means of transport rather than the plane, he won an additional vacation day, offered by his employer.
He is the first in his company to take advantage of this offer, available once a year for journeys of more than 4 hours. Other colleagues will follow in his footsteps, to go to Norway, Berlin, or even Sardinia, by sailboat.
“This day brings me a much better travel experience. A long time to read, talk to friends or watch a series. But it also brings me a better conscience. Because the train emits 30 times less CO2”, says he at 7:30 p.m. on RTS.
The journey from station to station takes 6 hours, with a change in Paris. “I wouldn’t have spent much less time on the plane,” he says. As for the price, it costs him 180 francs round trip.
Nearly 200 companies
This initiative, called Climate Perks, was born in the United Kingdom. Started in 2020, it rewards employees whose choices are more sustainable. From a handful of companies at the start, the movement now includes nearly 200 companies.
Train, bicycle, sailboat, by rewarding people who opt for low-carbon transport, companies are taking part in changing habits.
The role of economics
In Switzerland, Loyco is preparing to adopt this system. Christophe Barman, its director, sees this campaign as a step in the company’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact.
“We have been working on the mobility plan for a long time now. We reimburse train travel, we pay for bicycles and we try to minimize motorized mobility. Now, we are making employees aware of their private travel, on vacation, in particular”.
Christophe Barman believes that the economy has its role to play in achieving the Paris objectives. As a member of the Swiss Business Federation, he hopes that the idea will spread to other members: “employers often compare themselves”, he notes.
Combining sustainability and leave might therefore prove useful in convincing new employees, at a time of struggle to attract talent.
Matthieu Hoffetter/fme
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