Over the past month gas prices have increased by nearly 30 cents per gallon, a growing concern for consumers and employers. HR professionals should also recognize that rising gas prices impact any employee with a long commute to work. Several organizations have attempted to resolve the high cost of gas by suggesting carpooling and other transit initiatives, but much too often these programs do not succeed due to weak incentives and possible inconveniences.

Arecent TLNT articlesuggests four key areas to focus on for long-term solutions to the growing concerns:

1. Find the right location for your business central to your employee base. The physical location of the business should be easily accessible via road, public transportation and other forms of transit.
   

2. Offer flexible hours or a work from home option to help with the daily commute. Having non-standard work hours allows employees to avoid rush hour traffic.
   

3. Build an advocacy group with other organizations around your community to initiate expanding roads or adding transit options for employees that will support a growing commuting population.
   

4. Evaluate the culture. This may be a difficult approach but is another area that is critical to success. Having a better work environment can make the commuting process more tolerable for employees.
   

How is your organization helping employees deal with increasing gas prices?