Within CGI Finance, the soft mobility policy for employees dates from 2016. “We then carried out a study pointing out three phenomena. First of all, we realized that the home-to-work journey was the first “inconvenience” at work, before other sources of stress such as the achievement of objectives or managerial pressure”, recalls Loïc Pinchart, CSR Manager ( social and environmental responsibility).
Second observation: with 350 parking spaces for 800 employees at headquarters, there was a lack of parking in the morning. “And the placement of our streets in the blue zone has caused some small friction with the neighborhood”, continues this official. Finally, the company measured that 74% of its employees came to work alone by car, “what we call ‘thermal autosoloists’”, adds Loïc Pinchart.
At CGI Finance, soft mobility based on…
However, the headquarters of CGI Finance is very well served by the tram and the company then financed 50% of the costs of public transport. In addition, bicycles can use secure cycle paths to get to the office. “We had to act”, sums up Loïc Pinchart. CGI Finance has therefore decided to offer “turnkey” soft mobility solutions to its employees. And several specific actions have been taken to decarbonize employee mobility.
… VAE and carpooling…
“First and foremost, we focused on the electrically assisted bicycle (VAE) to get to work. 80 employees now use this means of transport all year round. We have relied on a fleet of service pedelecs, loaned free of charge for occasional needs. Then the demands evolved. Our employees also needed these bikes to pick up the children or go shopping,” says Loïc Pinchart.
In response, CGI Finance built a leasing solution. The employee pays 69 euros per month to rent a bicycle and the company subsidizes him via the FMD of 500 euros per year. Result: the employee ultimately pays 27 euros per month for a bicycle costing some 2,500 euros each. To this CGI Finance added a helmet, two locks and two interviews per year. And the lease with purchase adoption ends after three years with the possibility of repurchasing the bike at a low cost. “We therefore have a loaned fleet for occasional journeys and LOA for regular journeys,” concludes Loïc Pinchart.
CGI Finance then bet on carpooling. “Again, 80 of our employees regularly used this system, mainly before the pandemic. Our policy has been to facilitate this organization by reserving parking spaces for these shared cars,” continues Loïc Pinchart. What’s more, these parking lots are ideally located near the entrance to the offices. Carpoolers are therefore sure to have a space even if they arrive at the morning rush hour.
… electricity and public transport
The third action concerned electric cars. “For this, we have installed fifty terminals in our car park. Employees who come by electric car can recharge there for free. In addition, we offer long-term car rentals, which cost employees 200 to 300 euros per month, all inclusive and without contribution. We now have around a hundred employees who travel in electric vehicles on a personal basis”, describes the manager. This LOA allows either to return the car at the end of the three years of rental, or to resell it or to acquire it.
Finally, CGI Finance has focused on public transport by pushing the reimbursement of transport tickets from 50% of the amounts (the legal obligation) to 80%. “Nearly 200 employees use this system,” notes Loïc Pinchart.
To supplement these measures, the company offers all employees awareness-training sessions on road safety and soft mobility, with, for example, getting back in the saddle courses or training in driving scooters. Mobility weeks are also organized each year around subjects such as the interest of public transport or for testing electric cars.
Soft mobility: convincing results for CGI Finance
“With these policies, we are improving our CSR but also the quality of life at work. In France, employees who cycle are thus absent three to five days less in the year than the others. As a leasing financing organization, we can also, with this policy, test new modes of travel and better understand our future customers in their mobility needs, including soft mobility”, adds Loïc Pinchart.
Finally, these various actions have led to a significant reduction in CO emissions2 related to commuting. In less than four years, also taking into account the development of telecommuting, CGI has succeeded in reducing these emissions by 50% and making thermal soloists a minority among its employees.