Training in 'Commute Management' (Beating Traffic) Helps Human Resource Managers Boost Employee Punctuality, Morale, Retention and Productivity

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 16, 2007

With the creation of new discipline, "Commute Management," David Rizzo -- better known as Dr. Roadmap -- ushers in a long-overdue type of corporate instruction that addresses a previously unmanageable issue: that of employees who get demoralized and worn out by their morning commute before they even arrive at work. Within a span of 1-2 hours, Dr. Roadmap's Commute Management training session can arm employees with important knowledge to help them take control of their commute and arrive at work in a better physical and mental state.

With Americans wasting a collective 3.5 billion hours stewing in their own juices while stuck in freeway gridlock, the drive to work has come under fire as a leading cause of employee dissatisfaction. Studies undertaken at the University of California, Irvine, document the fact that a grueling commute can adversely affect employee morale, absenteeism, productivity and ultimately, retention.

Up to now, human resource managers have had little luck in ameliorating the daily grind that many employees face each weekday. However, Dr. Roadmap -- author of Survive the Drive! How to Beat Freeway Traffic in Southern California -- manages to demystify, and actually organize, the art of getting to work into a science that can be taught to others. Delivered in-house at employee work sites, this stand-alone short course in Commute Management teaches workers an important skill-set to help them better manage their daily drive.

Valuable training exercises include:

• Learning how to save time during the morning commute. Identifying windows of opportunity, determining when to take surface streets vs. the freeway, and teaching 'trip preparation' helps employees arrive on time.
• Reducing commuting stress. Employees learn the causes of driving stress and how to mitigate them so they begin the workday in a more prepared state of mind and body.
• Capitalizing on the ridesharing advantage. The many merits of carpooling and transit are presented as a win-win option -- helping employees save time and money, while improving compliance with company-sponsored ridesharing programs.
• Harnessing technology to speed the way. An examination of in-car navigation tools to decrease on-the-job Web surfing for pre-trip information.
• Keeping out of trouble. Teaching how to lower the risk of receiving a ticket helps reduce PTO for court appearances.
• Understanding freeway nomenclature. Clearly defines So Cal highway names, locations and terminology like Sigalert, acting as an incentive to draw sought-after employees from out-of-town.

Since this seminar also helps workers get home quicker, it can be presented as an employee benefit. For particularly challenging cases, human resource managers can refer employees for individual counseling and training upon request.

David Rizzo derives his training material from his commuting columns for several Southern California newspapers; his on-air work as a traffic reporter; a credential in Transportation Demand Management from UCLA; and his experience as rideshare planner. David Rizzo is author of two books and over 300 newspaper columns.

For more information or to book a training seminar, call (714) 879-8521 or visit http://www.DrRoadmap.com.

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