subject: Why Businesses Are Benefiting From Cycling [print this page] In the dog-eat-dog world of modern business, entrepreneurs are increasingly finding themselves having to be more and more resourceful when it comes to gaining a crucial advantage over their rivals. While the recent tumult in the global economy may have prompted some bosses to overlook the wellbeing of their staff in their attempts to simply keep their head above water, it"s essential to remember that "" generally speaking "" a happy, well-adjusted and motivated workforce is a more productive one. There all sort of things to bear in mind when looking to improve workplace morale, and there are some effective measures that might not seem terribly obvious at first.
A growing number of employers are reconsidering the perks they offer their workers in an attempt to improve output and boost staff loyalty. Indeed, the latter has become particularly important to businesses in recent years "" having a high staff turnover can be costly and damage workplace cohesion, and no boss wants to lose top talent with alarming regularity. Perhaps surprisingly, the most in-demand employee benefit in the UK is the Cycle to Work scheme, which was first established in the late 1990s. The initiative "" which is tax-free for businesses "" allows workers to access discounts for cycles and related equipment, encouraging them to ditch the car or public transport in favour of pedalling into work.
The events of recent years have seen more people feeling the financial pinch, with many firms unable to offer pay rises and the cost of living on a steady upward trend. Offering employees affordable cycling equipment, therefore, also allows them to sell their car or stop forking out for bus and train fares "" which themselves have risen sharply over the last several years. In addition, Brits are generally becoming increasingly aware of the importance of good physical health, as evidenced by changing dietary and exercise habits. This in turn has given many people that extra incentive to take up cycling instead of driving.
There has been significant investment in Britain"s cycling network "" including the creation of new cycle lanes and the formation of localised networks "" over the last decade or so, and cyclists have become an increasingly common sight on UK roads. In London, the public cycle hire scheme has also met with considerable success, with its 6,000 bikes having been used for an estimated four million journeys since the initiative was launched last July. The increasing popularity of cycling has helped to improve physical fitness, ensuring that people are generally healthier and more productive at work "" providing a handy boost for Britain"s businesses.
