Three Reasons Why Employee Shuttle Buses Boost Staff Wellbeing

It’s no secret that society is currently undergoing a mental health epidemic. Not only do we face individual problems in our personal lives, but we are collectively experiencing a dire cost of living crisis as well as the looming threats that climate change and global conflicts pose. When you consider this bleak set of circumstances, it’s no surprise that so many of us are feeling the thunder.

Employees are no different, and many workplaces are seeing unprecedented levels of staff burnout and long term mental health leave. So how can business owners protect the mental wellbeing of their employees? Employee shuttle buses present a unique opportunity to do just that.

For those of you who are just hearing about this new trend, employee shuttle buses refer to transport which is designed specifically to take your team members to and from work. Shuttle buses have seen a steep rise in use across the UK, Europe, and the USA in recent years. Many American businesses are utilizing companies such as US Coachways to transfer their teams interstate.

Not only are these shuttle buses both simple to implement and eco-friendly, they can have a profoundly positive impact on the mental well-being of employees. You may be thinking, ‘Surely not, you’re being over the top,’ but you’d be surprised. Let’s delve into some of the reasons behind their efficacy.

Increasing Mindfulness

One way in which employee shuttle buses promote staff wellbeing is by ensuring a more mindful start to the day. Mindfulness, you say? What’s that? Well, have you ever experienced one of those days when everything seems to go wrong? You spill your coffee on your way out of the house, trip on your shoelaces, and curse at yourself on the way out the door. Then you finally get stuck in traffic, and you just lose it? Yeah, me too. Well, that’s the opposite of mindfulness.

Think about it. Where does most of the stress come from on the morning of a workday? That’s right, the commute. Employee shuttle buses provide employees with a safe, calm environment that safely carries them to work. In the meanwhile, instead of staring at the car in front of them and honking their horn, they can tune in to an uplifting podcast, sip their coffee pensively, or watch something funny on the internet.

Though this may seem like a small change, this slower-paced, more intentional start to the day, can really change its whole trajectory. I’ve personally found that taking a moment to sit with yourself for a quiet moment before the day begins can be a powerful way to foster resilience and calm, and replacing the morning commute does just that for employees. Instilling mindfulness in this part of their day can really help employees avoid feeling burned out at work.

Promoting Connection

Traveling together by shuttle bus promotes connection and a team ethos, which are both central to any employee’s mental well-being. Quite simply, we all want to belong. And though we might occasionally begrudge our colleagues for the small things they do that bemuse us at best and annoy us at worst, in truth, we really benefit from working together. Commuting as a unit in the morning reinforces this sense of community and shared purpose, which can really promote a sense of well-being. After all, we are social creatures.

Additionally, socializing with colleagues in a non-working atmosphere can allow for slightly more personal conversations to arise, which may not naturally occur in the workplace. Though it’s important to have professional boundaries, these more personal conversations can really improve team bonding and promote a feeling of interconnectedness.

The Value of Being Valued

Last but by no means least, organizing a shuttle bus for employees is likely to cause them to feel valued and cared for. Many employees feel as though they are a mere afterthought for their managers and bosses, who they believe are more interested in profits and spreadsheets than their individual satisfaction. Organizing a shuttle bus is a clear way in which managers and business owners can show their employees that they care about their quality of life and their convenience, which is central to employees feeling valued.

Now, you may be asking, what relevance does being valued have to mental well-being? Well, it’s been shown that employees who feel valued are more likely to report better physical and mental health. Now, who doesn’t want a happier and healthier team?

Conclusion

In the challenging climate, we currently find ourselves in, in the post-pandemic world, preserving the mental wellbeing of our friends, colleagues, and employees is more important than ever. Wherever you hail from, commissioning or campaigning for an employee shuttle bus service can bolster the mental wellbeing of your team in more ways than one. And let’s face it; we all need this now more than ever.