Bicycle leasing: a perfect match for Randstad’s DNA
One of the first things you’ll notice when entering the Randstad Belgium head office is an eye-catching piece of bicycle art. The choice of this object is not without reason, as the bicycle has been part of the company’s DNA since its foundation. “Our founder, Frits Goldschmeding, transported his first temp worker to a customer on the back of his bike, and the bicycle has held a special place in Randstad’s collective memory ever since. By introducing bicycle leasing, we are carrying this tradition forward into the future”, says Dominique Reynens, Manager Corporate Personnel Services at Randstad Group.
The figures show that bicycle leasing is proving popular with staff. Since the launch of the project in 2021, some 340 employees have signed up for bicycle leasing and roughly one in ten Randstad employees now cycle around on a lease bike – pretty impressive considering that, in Belgium, only 2 per cent of employees opted for bicycle leasing.
Reynens says this should come as no surprise: “Optimisation is in Randstad’s DNA, and that applies to remuneration as well.” In fact, the company was already one of the pioneers in 2021 to include bicycle leasing in a flexible remuneration package.
Initially, employees could use part of their salary towards a lease bike. Later, the year-end bonus was also added to the options. This proved to be a huge success. “Normally, the year-end bonus is heavily taxed upon payout. By choosing to use this bonus towards a bike lease, you have a larger budget and can often choose a bike that might otherwise not be affordable.”
To ensure the smooth launch of the project, Randstad could count on KBC Autolease’s support. Information sessions and instruction videos were provided to help staff navigate the system. The project attracted interest quickly and from a much broader group than initially expected. “Not only our younger employees are opting for a lease bike”, says Reynens. “Plenty of our over-40s are also using their year-end bonus to lease a bike. Better still, this choice has no impact on other salary components, making it all the more attractive.”
Besides the financial benefits, Randstad also considers bicycle leasing as a vital tool for employer branding. “By giving our employees more options for optimising their salary package, we can offer them added value”, says Reynens
Although Randstad doesn’t offer an actual mobility budget at present, the company does provide similar options. For example, employees have the option to convert certain salary components into a mobility allowance to be spent as they please. A bicycle often turns out to be the most popular choice.
HR also finds the administration surprisingly efficient. “We can always rely on KBC Autolease’s expertise. And thanks to the integration with our social-accounting secretariat, the administrative processing is almost entirely automated”, Reynens adds. This keeps the additional workload for HR to a minimum.
Nevertheless, clear communication is still key. Employees need to receive clear information on the use of the bicycle for their commute and on the settlement of their contract at the end of the lease period. Randstad and KBC Autolease have jointly drawn up a clear bike policy for this purpose, setting out clear agreements and guidelines, and helping all parties avoid any unwelcome surprises.
The ultimate aim is to encourage our employees to start cycling by offering a simple, sustainable and financially attractive solution. As far as Dominque Reynens is concerned, there’s still room for growth – both among our own staff and among our customers.