Multivitamins company Swisse Wellness has become the first company in Australia and New Zealand to offer employees a tax deductible salary sacrifice ride to work scheme.
All Swisse Wellness employees will be given a A$2,000/pa loan to purchase cycling equipment which can be repaid from their pre-tax salary.
“As global leaders in preventative health, our mission is to make people healthier and happier. Our aim is to inspire other businesses in Australia to adopt the scheme so that more Australians can enjoy the benefits of cycling to work. Working in London for many years, I was first introduced to the UK scheme in 2013 and have been cycling to work ever since. I am now fitter and faster into work, it’s great for the environment and it doesn’t cost me a penny. I am happier and healthier because of it,” Swisse Wellness managing director, Oliver Horn said.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports almost 7 million Aussies drive to work every day. Swisse wants to foster a stronger cycling culture in Australia, whereby there is stronger rider driver safety awareness.
Ride to Work Schemes have witnessed great success around the globe, with leading UK scheme provider CycleScheme, today attracting almost 800,000 participants. UK scheme findings report a 91 per cent increase in journey’s on bikes over the last decade, more than 50% taking up the scheme being new to cycling, 76% users say they would not have bought a bike had the scheme not existed, and 87% participants report a noticed improvement in their health after starting to ride to work.
“The success overseas is evident and Swisse is committed to championing this scheme to become a national initiative in Australia. We are excited to work in partnership with like-minded industry stakeholders to drive and scale this scheme nationally and the Australian Government to help create further opportunities that supports all Australian businesses to readily adopt a national Ride to Work Scheme,” Horn said.
Australian Tour De France winner, Cadel Evans, is supporting the initiative of Swisse Wellness to encourage all Australians to cycle more and have an active lifestyle.
“I’m excited to see Swisse champion cycling with the launch of the national Ride to Work Scheme. As a passionate cyclist, it’s fantastic to see a business not only supporting its employees but inspiring all Australians to live a healthier and happier life. In the interests of our well-being, the traffic and environmental issues society is facing, I am convinced that my passion, cycling, can help us. If we can make it easier to ride to and from work, we can make a big difference,” said Evans.
“At Swisse, wellness is the cornerstone of our business and we aim to support every Australian to not just be alive, but to live well. Together with Australian businesses and the Australian Government, we have the opportunity to bring this national Ride to Work Scheme to every Australian,” added Horn.
