Responsible Travel Time, a new concept in France

It was in 2023 that the company Ubiq announces the creation of this leave.

The concept is simple and innovative: two additional days off for employees who choose responsible modes of transport (train, bus, carpooling, etc.) rather than flying for their trips.

The objective? Raise awareness among teams about the environmental impact of transport and encourage them to limit their personal footprint!

In the summer of 2023, while working with Ubiq and learning about the measure, we decided to take the plunge and test its implementation. Since then, the device has spread and aroused the curiosity of several media, such as France 2, Le Monde or Les Echos in summer 2024. Many companies are wondering about this model, its impact, its cost.

So how did we set up TTR at Komeet? What are the conditions for accessing it? How was this received? Here is our return.

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TTR at Komeet: our feedback

What does TTR look like at Komeet?

At Komeet, we have defined responsible travel time as follows:

• 1 day of TTR per year, which cannot be carried over to the following year;
• This day can be divided into two half-days if necessary;
• Accessible for all teams, including interns and work-study students, and without seniority conditions;
• And, of course, paid at 100%, like paid leave.

Unlike paid leave or RTT, TTR at Komeet is a time “Half-off” : each employee is invited to work during their TTR, if or when conditions permit.

Concretely, on a train with a limited connection, it is possible to answer a few emails or to work on a substantive subject; and to disconnect during connections or when the network is too weak.

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How can our teams benefit from it?

To be able to use your TTR, simply fill in 3 conditions :

• Travel with a responsible mode of transport (train, bus or carpooling);
• Make a long trip of at least 6 hours;
• And set your TTR for the day or half-day during which the trip is made.

Defining a clear framework is essential to allow TTR to be used appropriately and efficiently. At Komeet, to apply a TTR, each employee must:

1. Validate with your manager and check that he/she respects the 3 conditions of the TTR;
2. Then book your mode of transport;
3. Inform the human resources team and send them proof (train tickets, bus or carpooling).

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How is TTR received and used by our teams?

This measure was particularly welcomed by our teams, who are already sensitive to environmental issues. For us, TTR is perceived in two different ways:

• This is a definite advantage for people who no longer want to fly. These are employees who, until now, had to take additional vacation days in order to be able to choose more responsible (and therefore longer) modes of transport. The implementation of the TTR therefore allows them to continue on their momentum, but without having the feeling of “wasting” vacation days spent in transport.
• And for people who did not have the reflex of responsible travel before the implementation of the TTR, it is a real lever that Makes them want to experience “slow travel”, sometimes for the first time!

A year and a half after its implementation, around a third of the 70 people who make up the Komeet team have already used their Responsible Travel Time.

Norway, Spain, Slovenia, Scotland, Scotland, South of France, Portugal... These are all destinations that were able to be reached by our teams thanks to the TTR. And we are very proud to have contributed to these responsible trips!

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Our answers to frequently asked questions about TTR

This device arouses the curiosity of many actors, who raise a large number of questions about the approach. We've listed the main questions businesses have about TTR, and we're sharing our answers here!

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1. “How did you convince the management of this practice?”

At Komeet, it was not necessary to convince management... she herself initiated the process!

However, some directions may be closed to the idea of adopting this device. In this case, it is a good idea to highlight the benefits that TTR brings to strengthen or maintain a corporate culture strong and committed, as well as the environmental benefits and the pride of belonging of the employees it promotes.

Also to read: CSR: How to involve governance and decision makers in your employee engagement process?

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2. “How to make sure there's no”tampering”?”

In order to prevent the TTR from being used for reasons other than its initial purpose, each employee must provide the company with proof of their trip.

However, it is essential to cultivate a climate of trust around TTR to encourage responsible use!

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3. “How much does TTR cost you each year?”

At Komeet, TTR is considered to be a employee benefit and everyone is free to use it. If you want to create a dedicated budget, it is important to take into account that not all employees are going to use their TTR.

For example, at Komeet, around 30% of team members used it within a year and a half after its implementation.

Beyond the indirect cost, it is of course necessary to take into account its various benefits:

• team loyalty;
• contributing to a more responsible world;
• but also the possibility of setting an example so that other companies can take ownership of it in turn.

As Makesense says in a LinkedIn post on the subject:

“This initiative not only encourages behaviors aligned with environmental values, but also strengthens talent loyalty, while positioning your company as a pioneer in sustainable HR. Full box, right?”

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4. “Have other companies implemented TTR?”

TTR, which is more widely used in Great Britain, is brand new in France. It was started by Ubiq, which seems to have been one of the pioneers in France.

In addition to Ubiq and Komeet, several other companies are now adopting this practice such as HomeExchange, The Climate Mural, Evaneos, Axionable...

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5. “Often the train is more expensive than the plane. How can we justify this approach to employees who do not necessarily want to spend more money on their trips?”

To justify this approach, it is important to highlight long term benefits of the TTR, especially for the environment. It should also be remembered that the train is not the only responsible mode of transport: at Komeet, a long trip by bus or carpooling may also be eligible for TTR, while often being less expensive than the train.

Of course, this measure is not perfect and cannot be the only solution to the many problems of responsible travel. But its impact is still real - whether as a tool to raise awareness or as a lever for the concrete reduction of emissions from employee travel!

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6. “How can we prevent this from being seen as greenwashing?”

Like all environmental actions, the implementation of the TTR must be carried out with sincerity and alignment.

Let's take the example of a company that has offices in different countries, and in which some employees must regularly take a plane to go to the various branches. This might seem contradictory to the implementation of Responsible Travel Time (TTR). However, this does not make this initiative less relevant because it reduces the environmental impact where possible!

The key is to communicate honestly and transparently and to be in line with the desire to improve. The company could acknowledge that it still uses planes for business travel, but explain that it is actively working on solutions to reduce this impact. At the same time, this does not prevent it from taking action to offer its teams less carbon-intensive transport options, especially for their personal trips.

In summary, it's not about pretending to be perfect, but about showing a continuous improvement approach where every action counts. And so, exit greenwashing!

Are you interested in setting up the TTR? This is just one of the many ways to mobilize your teams around environmental issues. If you want to go further, discover How to engage your employees in favor of the environment ! And do not hesitate to share this article around you, and especially to talk about it within your company. And for our part, we will continue to work to promote the approach and share our experience as much as necessary!

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What if you started the movement in your business?

Komeet can support you in the design, deployment and animation of impact systems that engage your employees on major environmental issues.

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