• B30 Bio-diesel warning
• GETTING TO THE POINTS
• Pre-Budget Report Comment
• BUMPER CARS
• I LIKE DRIVING IN MY CAR… (ON MY OWN)
• HARD DAYS LIGHT
• ANIMAL TRAGIC
• FUEL’S GOLD
• SEEING ‘RED’ OVER HIGH FUEL COSTS
• DRIVING “CONDITIONS”
• MANY HAPPY RETURNS?
• KICKING THE CO2 HABIT
• ‘GREEN’ FINGERS
• FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TO GROUND TRAFFIC CONTROL
• CULTURE SHOCK
• DON’T DRIVE DROWSY
• ‘FOLLOW THAT STAR!’

• PULLING POWER

• The Darling Budget of March - 08
• Courtesy Cars - March 08
• Green Survey - Feb 08
• New congestion charge angers industry - Feb 08
• Midlands Excellence Award win - Jan 2008

PULLING POWER

Masterlease’s latest recruitment research reveals that the “car is the star” with more pulling power than senior executives probably believed.  In fact, the prospect of a head-turning company car can be a big enough incentive for a third of employees to jump ship and move on.

In a survey of more than 500 employees, undertaken by the fleet management company, almost one third of them revealed that they would consider leaving their current job if they were offered something equivalent, somewhere else with a better company car.

“A top-spec company car can be the ultimate incentive for a skilled worker, particularly in industries that are facing fierce competition in recruitment. The research shows that it is traditional company car schemes, not cash, that have the pulling power.  Cars are very symbolic of wealth and status and are therefore an important form of recognition in the workplace,” said Robert Kingdom, head of marketing and business development at Masterlease. 

“If employees fail to motivate staff through the right types of incentives and do not have good employee engagement they could experience difficulties with retention and recruitment.”

The research also revealed that 27 per cent of company car drivers surveyed who have been offered a cash alternative have accepted it to source a vehicle privately. 

Kingdom says that employers keen to proactively manage their environmental impact, need to be aware that the motivation behind an employee opting for a cash-for-car scheme is usually freedom of choice and that some may wish to take advantage of being able to choose a larger, more polluting vehicle that is free from the restrictions of carbon dioxide based benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax. 

“Bosses need to recognise that a relatively high number of employees will often be drawn to bigger, more sporting or lifestyle orientated cars.  Therefore, businesses committed to company car schemes need to ensure drivers can select from a range of quality vehicles that fulfill the requirements of being both desirable and low polluting. 

“There’s no reason why company car lists can’t be both attractive and environmentally-friendly, particularly with new ranges such as the efficient dynamics vehicles from BMW, and Lexus hybrids.”

Kingdom concludes:  “In real business terms, the research has emphasised the importance of companies recognising the expectations of current and potential employees and ensuring that car incentives are compatible and effective in motivating the recipient.”

Ends