ways2work > Who does it > GlaxoSmithKline 2011
GlaxoSmithKline 2011
Organisational challenge/context
GlaxoSmithKline is very concerned about the impacts of business travel and has a holistic travel impacts reduction programme directly supporting its mission statement to “Do more, feel better, live longer”. The programme demonstrates excellent impact and is further enhanced by the organisation’s ethos of encouraging a healthy and balanced lifestyle amongst staff.
Interventions
Between 2008 and 2009 GlaxoSmithKline cut 37,804 one-way flights helping it to save 38,622,606 km and decreasing CO2 emissions by 7,151 tonnes.
This was achieved by a significant investment in conferencing systems around the world including teleconferencing and webconferencing facilities, desktop and personal videoconference units, 500 dedicated videoconferencing rooms in 68 countries and 16 telepresence suites. This provision of good quality equipment, supported by behavioural change programmes, has resulted in a 40% increase in videoconferencing from 2009-10.
As an example, by using this technology one meeting involving 70 senior managers from around the world resulted in cost savings of £60,000, reduced 140,000 miles worth of air travel and 24 tonnes of CO2.
To further support employee work/life balance, GlaxoSmithKline offers flexible working policies and arrangements to enable staff to work flexibly and/or remotely by agreement with their manager and dependent on their role in the business. Likewise, GlaxoSmithKline’s offices are configured to enable different workstyles suiting business and employee needs whilst making effective use of office space.
In terms of commuting, GlaxoSmithKline provides excellent cycling facilities including parking, purchasing, training and repair facilities plus changing rooms with showers, towels, irons, driers and storage. Additionally, GlaxoSmithKline provides significant support and encouragement to staff to influence them to car share, use public transport and walk. A personal travel planner is available for one-on-one consultations. Bio-fuelled shuttle buses travel on schedule to a local tube station. The company also offers an on-site fitness centre, dry cleaning facilities, shoe repair, post office services, Oyster top-up, ATMs and a variety of catering outlets to further reduce travel during the working day.
Results/benefits
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Between 2008 and 2009 GlaxoSmithKline cut 37,804 one-way flights helping it to save 38,622,606 km, decreasing CO2 emissions by 7,151 tonnes
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One meeting alone, involving 70 managers which took place by using conferencing facilities rather than travelling, resulted in cost savings of £60,000, the reduction of 140,000 of air travel and 24 tonnes of CO2
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Reduction in single-occupancy car use at GSK House in Brentford from 81% in 2004 to 56% in 2009 has reduced congestion, emissions and car parking.
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In Brentford where car parking is very limited, GlaxoSmithKline released 500 car parking spaces in 2006 as a result of travel plan activities. Single occupancy car use was reduced by 25% percent between 2005 and 2007.
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Each cyclist, not requiring a car parking space, saves GlaxoSmithKline £9,900 and cyclists at GSK House save 88 tonnes of CO2 each year by cycling
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In a survey of GSK House cycling group, 92% of respondents agreed that their health is improved as a direct result of the support they receive from GSK to cycle to work; 74% of respondents state that they are more productive and 73% believe they are more motivated.