Features
6 Dec 22

European employees expect better mobility offer

More than half (55%) of employees is not fully convinced by their company’s mobility offer. And 76% of employees looking to leave their jobs within six months say mobility solutions as an important criterion when choosing their next employer.

Furthermore, 82% think a company that offers a mobility budget is more attractive. Offering the relevant mobility offer is a real opportunity companies should explore to attract or retain employees by answering their expectations”, says Yaël Bennathan (pictured), Head of Arval Mobility Observatory.

The Arval Mobility Observatory regularly takes the temperature of the fleet and mobility industry, most notably with the annual Fleet and Mobility Barometer. This survey is the first one in which the Arval Mobility Observatory reached out to employees instead of corporate fleet managers. 

Main finding: “Employee expectations in terms of mobility solutions are high, but their confidence in what companies will offer is mixed”, says Ms. Bennathan. Put differently: companies can develop a mobility offer as an effective weapon in the ‘War for Talent’ – it will help them attract and retain qualified personnel.

Here are the five key findings of the survey, conducted in collaboration with Ipsos across six European countries, questioning almost 3000 employees.

1.    The car is still central to both corporate and employee mobility

We’re in the post-Covid era, but the pandemic has changed our transportation habits.

  • “64% of employees surveyed answered Covid had at least one impact on their mobility”, says Ms. Bennathan. Specifically, 47% of employees now work more from home, while 42% report a decrease in the number of business trips. All employees surveyed currently work from home or remotely 1.9 days a week on average 
  • “The car remains the main mode of transportation”, both for commuting (71%) and business trips (49%). Why? Because companies don’t propose enough or the relevant mobility solutions at the moment to their employees  
  • Travel time, comfort and accessibility are employees’ main criteria to choose their commuting transportation mode. 
  • “Sustainability doesn’t rank high on employee criteria in their choice of transportation mode for commuting: surprisingly, low environmental impact comes in at 10th place.” That only adds to corporate responsibility in terms of providing a clear pathway towards greener mobility and sustainability in general.

2.    Companies can improve their mobility offer

The survey focuses on relatively mature mobility markets. Nevertheless, no more than 59% of surveyed employees works for a company that offers at least one mobility service.

  • On average, employees have access to 2.2 mobility services. The most offered ones are private parking spaces provided by the company, partial coverage of public transport expenses, and a company car. 
  • Belgium and Netherlands are the most mature markets: employees have access to an average of 2.5 mobility services. And 80% of Belgian employees have access to at least one. (In the Netherlands, that’s 75%).

3.    Employees not convinced by their company mobility options

Less than half of all employees (48%) use at least one corporate mobility service. Even if their company offers one (or more), they’re often not appropriate or sufficient (some employees having no company mobility service offered).

  • “As a result, 55% of employees are not convinced by their current employers’ mobility offer.” That level is lower where the mobility offer is better. Yet even in Belgium (49%) and the Netherlands (37%), the level of dissatisfaction remains high. 

4.However, their mobility expectations are high

  • No less than 92% of employees would like their employer to offer at least one mobility offer. The most requested mobility solutions are (first) a mobility budget, (then) a company car with related services. And 76% of employees expect their company to partially cover their fuel expenses, 73% expect a mobility budget, and 72% want partial coverage of public transport expenses. 

“However, only 54% are confident that their companies will increase their mobility offer in the next five years. That’s not a lot.” “Companies really have a card to play in this area”, says Ms. Bennathan.  

5.    Mobility offer makes companies more attractive

Mobility is a major differentiator when it comes to looking for work. Companies should pay attention: “Nowadays, companies face a real challenge when it comes to talent retention.”

  • No less than 66% employees say the mobility solutions offered by potential employers are an important criterion when looking for a new job. It’s even more important (76%) for those planning to leave their company within the next six months. 
  • So, which mobility solutions exactly make a company more attractive? Clearly, mobility budgets (82%) and company cars (78%). 

“This survey is really inspiring from HR and CSR perspectives. It should convince companies they need to develop relevant mobility solutions for their employees. If private corporates continue enhancing their mobility offer they will generate a real differentiator in the War for Talent”. Moreover, mobility is a real lever for private corporate to reach their sustainability targets, Yaël Bennathan concludes. 
 

Authored by: Steven Schoefs