To promote diversity at work, organizations hire female employees who need to travel for work. There are risks during the commute which needed to be handled.
Technology is a great tool that is used to make female employee transportation safer.
Instances from the past have compelled organizations to take action when it comes to female employee’s safety.
The data project that the incidents occur mostly during transportation which makes it the prime focus area among other factors.
The use of gadgets or software can help in enhancing safety measures. This is achieved by tracking and tracing the movement, activities, etc.
Once the person is away from danger the same technology is used as a witness to the incident based on the observations, further enhancements can be made to ensure that the incident doesn’t get repeated with other employee or if a situation arises there is a plan of action to handle the situation effectively.
Further in the blog, we would be learning about the way technology is used not only to provide safety but also to make policies, prepare action plans, etc.
1.Either its transport provided by the organizations or the public transport, making the female employee commute to and from work safely is the main objective.
There are different players involved at different stages. Through technology, the movement of employees can be tracked to ensure a safe commute. This primarily involves tracking through cellular activity. This is to be used in both ways of commute (that is company provided transportation or public transport).
2.In case of any mishap, the employee’s movement is traced using the cellular network and GPS which helps in locating the person and getting her to safety. Once the person is safe, further action can be taken.
3.Cellular devices can also be used to record the incident which can be used later as evidence for any legal action needed. Apart from the cellular device, most companies have cameras installed in the vehicle which can also help in tracking the person.
4.While the companies send multiple people in the same vehicle, the software is used to decide the route.
Companies like FLEETROOT use fleet management software which takes the help of GPS in giving the best possible route in terms of distance, location, sequence of drop points, cost, etc.
This is done by the fleet manager who often is a transport supervisor or a manager. This helps ensure good quality service which in turn helps improve the confidence of female employees concerning company-provided transport.
5.Vehicles fixed with GPS devices help in locating the vehicle in situations when there is a breakdown or some unforeseen incident on the way. This device is either embedded in the vehicle during manufacturing or is installed by the companies providing transportation.
6.The tracking of the vehicle is done by the fleet manager who does it either in real-time or collects the data. In cases of breakdown or accident companies either send another vehicle or reach out to the nearest police station if the need arises.
7.One of the best ways to ensure safety is also by screening cab drivers, performing a thorough background check, check for any previous legal records, health records, etc.
This is done by the company providing the transport service to the organization. In cases of private transport companies or cab aggregators, the responsibility falls on them.
8.At times, based on situations, if a female employee is scheduled to be dropped last during odd hours, the organization has a policy in place to send security personnel. This enhances the security feature by a step.
9.Another factor of safety is the issue females face while waiting for transport at the designated pick-up or drop areas.
These are mainly public places unless located inside the company premises. The public places are the main point of concern. This is tackled in 2 ways.
First, a CCTV is installed (mostly hidden) and helps in recording the incident. Second, the company ensures that the female employee gets dropped at the residence or the entrance gate and the vehicle drivers are instructed not to move till they ensure that the employee has safely entered the house or the compound.
10.The second scenario listed above is being practiced by many organizations and is usually applicable for drop or pickup during odd hours. This practice is limited to transport provided by organizations but has been effective.
Using the above scenarios or previous incidents, companies frame their policies to facilitate the employees with the best and safest means of commute. There are few factors which are considered like distance from work, shift timing, sequence of drop, number of employees using the vehicle, etc.
11.Finally, in case of an unforeseen emergency, there is a list of helpline numbers provided and managed by the organizations, vendors providing transport service, or aggregator companies.
There are different levels of where the concern could be escalated to. The people who manage these numbers are trained to handle any unforeseen scenarios and have their standard operating procedures to provide the required aid.
As the above points raise cost factors as well as include various safety parameters, the organizations have come up with a unique solution to eliminate all the above-listed practices.
This not only helps the company save a huge amount but also does not conflict with any of the government policies. In this age of mobility, if a female employee is required to work in odd hours, the company lets them work from home till the time they are not rostered in normal business hours. A smart and effective method to reduce a lot of complications, isn’t it?
To summarize, there are various tools available in the market which can be categorized under technology and include both software as well as physical gadgets.
These are used in various combinations to ensure a good amount of safety during a female employee’s commute.
