Alternatives to High Gas Prices
UK employees are being economically squeezed by high gas prices and no raises. Nevertheless, there are a few things you can do to ease the pain of higher prices, such as a flexible work arrangement or a flexible commute.
To learn more about UK’s Flexible Work Arrangement Guidelines, go to http://www.uky.edu/HR/WorkLife/flexibility.html. Not all work at UK is conducive to flexible work arrangements but many positions are. To determine whether you and your work unit could accommodate a flexible work arrangement, use the Letter of Understanding to guide your consideration. This document will ask you to answer the following questions:
- Where do you work?
- What do you do?
- Who are customers?
- What are the formal and informal norms around serving your customers?
- What is the evidence of your work?
- How is your work evaluated?
- How do you communicate to your customers, your co-workers and supervisor?
- How will the production, evaluation and communication of your work get done as a result of an altered work schedule?
Additionally, think about alternative transportation arrangements to save on gas, such as:
- Carpooling
Consider sharing a ride with a colleague. Soon Parking and Transportation Services will be introducing a computer software that will make matching employees easy, but for now, talk to your co-workers or put a notice up in the break room. Recently a colleague of mine discovered that there were eight UK employees living in her subdivision!
- Lextran
Bus passes are $30 a month for unlimited rides. Contact 253-INFO or www.lextranonthemove.org for more information. Parking and Transportation Services is also working on some additional programs that will make riding the bus more economical, so keep that in mind. Also, for those of you who would like to see a Park and Ride from the WalMart in Nicholasville, let Dave Riggins at Lextran at 255-7756 know! UK employees can now trade their E parking permits for a bus pass. Learn more.
- Biking and Walking
Increasing numbers of employees are biking to main campus or using a bicycle to go from one part of the campus to another. Go to http://www.uky.edu/HR/wellness/wildcatwheels.html for more information about the number of bicycle options available to UK employees.Finally, be creative; talk to your colleagues, neighbors, and friends to negotiate different ways to travel to work. Reinstate the community bulletin board or listserv to share information and rides. I know it’s a new way of thinking, but many employees are asking similar questions, so together, new ways of working and traveling can be achieved.
If you would like further information or guidance, feel free to contact the Work Life Office.
Robynn Pease, Director
