Top Benefits of EV Charging Stations at Your Workplace

The labor shortage is real. In response, employers are pulling out all the stops to help attract and retain people with the skills they need to help grow their businesses. Unlike previous generations, millennials and Gen Z aren’t often motivated by the same incentives. But what if the key to attracting top talent actually involved pulling out all the stops by helping your employees, and their vehicles, keep going?

One of the quickest ways to connect with the modern workforce is through demonstrating your understanding of their needs and concerns. EV charging stations may just be the way to create that connection and enjoy the other significant benefits they can provide.

Quick Links

• The Demands of the Modern Workforce
• Sustainability Efforts in the Workplace
• Impact of Sustainability Efforts
• Where EV Charging Stations Fit in the Sustainability Picture
• Top Benefits of EV Charging Stations at Your Workplace

The Demands of the Modern Workforce

There was a time when healthcare, a 401K, vacation time, and a few other benefits and perks were enough to help you attract and retain the talent you need to run and grow your business. As many employers are finding, change has come. As millennials and Gen Z become a majority of the workforce, they have a few more requests that go beyond benefits.

One of their big asks is that the businesses they work for be sustainable. In fact, a recent IBM study revealed that 71% of employees find environmentally responsible companies more attractive when they’re seeking employment. That same study found that nearly a quarter of the workforce intended to switch jobs that same year, finding the perks and benefits, like sustainability, that make you more attractive to potential employees.

And, just in case the desire wasn’t clear, millennials are willing to put their money where their mouth is and take anywhere from a $5-10K salary cut to ensure the company they work for is environmentally responsible.

So what exactly does environmentally responsible look like for this crew?

Sustainability Efforts in the Workplace

For millennials and Gen Z, climate change is among their most pressing concerns. And, while they’re willing to take action on their own, they are expecting businesses to be better global citizens. And, because they have such a personal stake in climate change action, they’re especially expecting the businesses they work for, and with, to be actively combating climate change and enacting environmentally responsible initiatives when and where possible.

Now, that’s not to say that they’re expecting every company to be Patagonia, but they are expecting businesses to “prioritize visible, everyday environmental actions, such as banning single-use plastics.” While Gen X was taught to sort and separate recyclables, recycling is broken and younger generations see it largely as performative. Simply put, they’re looking for more.

Further, these two generations, who will soon be a bulk of the workforce, are not just asking others to do. They are, as consumers and employees, looking for environmental initiatives that include them and allow them to participate in the efforts that will combat climate change.

So what does it mean to include visible everyday environmental actions? What can businesses do that would fulfill that need for millennial and Gen Z employees?

In addition to being public and vocal about your sustainable business efforts, consider the following efforts:

• Organize volunteering events focused on environmental efforts and projects
• Find ways to decrease waste throughout your workflows (from paper waste to electrification of fleets, there are plenty of options)
• Find ways to reduce energy consumption and, when possible, use renewable resources
• Be mindful of the environmental impact of your landscaping and consider a rooftop garden
• Help your employees reduce their carbon footprint by providing services or infrastructure (like EV charging stations)
• Invite your employees to submit ideas or even create a committee to support these efforts and more

It’s certainly not an exhaustive list, but it is a start, particularly if you’re still in the site development phase (this is true for MDUs as well!). Sustainability efforts can be built right into your design, from building to parking lot, and that’s about as visible as you can make your efforts. 

Impact of Sustainability Efforts 

The advantage here is that many of these sustainability initiatives also provide significant business benefits.

Let’s start at the top. For businesses, money talks, and much like Gen Z, sustainability walks the walk. When it comes to savings and cost cutting (or ROI), few things are more effective than environmental initiatives. Take 3M for example. Their “Pollution Prevention Pays” program, which focuses largely on waste reduction in the workflow, has saved them an estimated $2.2 billion dollars since its inception.

It’s not just about the money though, these programs also help reduce reliance on non-renewable resources and can help limit the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. Take FedEx for example. Through fleet electrification, they’ve reduced fuel usages by more than 50 gallons and reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 40% as well. It’s such smart business that they’ve committed to a fully electric fleet by 2040, aiming for 0 carbon emissions and a much greener footprint.

Let’s look at it from the other side as well. It’s not just about cost savings and cutting, sustainability efforts have the potential to increase revenue as well. In fact, a majority, 66%, of Americans are willing to pay more for eco-friendly and sustainable products. The good news is that it also includes sustainable packaging and efforts made by companies to help them reduce their carbon footprint, both directly and indirectly.

Finally, all these efforts won’t go unnoticed by your team. Interestingly enough, your concern for the environment and your shared values, transfers to them. Employees at workplaces that offer sustainability programs see the business as caring more about them as well. Employees who feel cared for and cared about are more likely to feel satisfied. That satisfaction then leads to increased productivity, by as much as 31%.

And, one more extrapolation. That employee satisfaction is passed on to your customers. There’s a direct correlation between how happy your employees are and the service they provide to your customers and clients. Happy customers also means more business.

Not only are you reaping rewards via cost savings, but your ability to produce more and earn more are enhanced as well. The trick of this is finding sustainable solutions that improve the employee experience and your sustainability.

Where EV Charging Stations Fit in The Sustainability Picture

We’ve known for decades that carbon dioxide (C02) is one of the leading contributors to the greenhouse gasses that contribute to climate change. In the U.S., we are responsible for contributing 15% of global emissions despite being only 4% of the population. This is information both millennials and Gen Z have grown up being aware of and so, for those generations, cars are seen as one of the biggest ways for them to impact change.

Interestingly enough, the same way the pandemic impacted employment issues, it also put a dent in public transportation usage. While millennials and Gen Z were, prior to COVID-19, buying fewer cars than other generations, that trend is shifting. Further, these two generations are, as we’ve said, hyper conscious of how their consumer choices impact the environment and so electric cars are, to them, a good route.

Now that they’re more affordable and coming in a variety of makes and models, EV adoption by millennials and Gen Z is expected to grow. However, one of the biggest obstacles to wider adoption, even now, is the availability of EV charging stations.

As many people know, one of the places most EV owners charge their vehicles is at home. The reasoning is two-fold. First, they’re there and they likely will be for a while. When you know you don’t need to move the vehicle for a while is one of the best times to charge. Further, the existing infrastructure and charging networks are failing EV drivers.

However, the recent infrastructure bill includes incentives for building a more robust EV charging station network which means there are great opportunities for those seeking to provide EV charging stations and, among the best locations, is the workplace. Much like home, we spend a lot of time there, and as we’ve learned, it’s a great way to attract the workforce of today and tomorrow. 

Top Benefits of EV Charging Stations at Your Workplace 

The truly great part about EV Charging stations at your workplace is that it benefits pretty much everyone. Let’s start with your employees.

As we’ve mentioned, when it comes to attracting talent, visible everyday actions are important and a majority of today’s workforce wants to be more than an onlooker. EV charging stations at your workplace is a very visible way of demonstrating your commitment to sustainability and it allows your employees to put that into practice. Still, they reap other benefits:

• It’s convenient. As we said, we charge at home because we have time there. The workplace is similar. We spend half of our waking hours there during the work week and so it just makes sense.
• It helps decrease range anxiety. One concern many EV drivers have is how far they can go and when they can get their next charge. Will they make it? For employees who have a commute, EV charging stations can give them peace of mind.
• Happier employees. Not only are your sustainability efforts making your employees feel heard and valued, the stress of knowing they don’t have to worry about finding a charging station means they’re just more relaxed. 
• Reduce your employees’ carbon footprint. The generations most concerned with climate change are keenly aware of their carbon footprint and the activities, purchases, and habits that impact it. They are, more actively than other generations, working to reduce carbon emissions and their own personal footprint.
• It’s not just employees who benefit from EV charging stations at the workplace. Employers also see a great return on the investment:
  • Tax incentives. While tax incentives for drivers expired in 2022, the incentives for employers have been reinstated. In the past, businesses were capped at $30,000 in tax credit for building EV charging stations. With the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act, the tax credit is up to $100,000 per EV charger.
  • More productive employees. Happier employees are more productive. Your installation of EV charging stations not only demonstrates your commitment to sustainability, but it also shows your employees you share values. They get peace of mind from the equipment and a sense that they belong with an employer who cares about climate change. That satisfaction translates to an ongoing productivity boost.
  • Attract and retain top talent. It’s no secret that finding candidates with the skills you need is difficult. When it comes to competing with other potential employers and retaining the talent you do attract, EV charging stations are one benefit that can create affinity and real value for your team.
  • Demonstrate your corporate commitment to sustainability. Consumers are more aware than ever of social responsibility and the role businesses and corporations play as global citizens. EV charging stations are a visible commitment to sustainability that shows not just your employees, but your customers, clients, and other stakeholders that you’re working hard to do your part. 
  • Increase occupancy rates in shared buildings. If you own a commercial building, EV charging stations in your lot are a great way to attract tenants and occupants who are looking to take advantage of the benefits
   

Some chargers are designed to support only one kind of vehicle; some chargers are designed to fast charge without real concern for the battery or the vehicle; some EV charging stations just aren’t reliable.

NovaCHARGE is ready to change all that. If you’re ready to be a part of the future we see, get in touch with our team today and let’s start talking about how we can all be a part of the electric rEVolution.