One state believes it's up to HR to cough up for the employee commute

Employers across Philadelphia may soon start covering their employees' commuting expenses thanks to a new bill that was recently passed by its city council.

The Commuter Benefits legislation, introduced by Democratic Councilmember At-large Helen Gym, seeks to require employers with 50 or more employees to establish a commuter transit benefit programme.

Lee Moylan and Stephanie Grey from the Philadelphia-based Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP law firm explained that employers would be required to offer at least one of the following under the initiative:

• Employee elected pre-tax, payroll deduction for mass transit expense, which includes fare for mass transit or transportation in a commuter highway vehicle
• An employer-paid benefit, which covers the fare for mass transit or transportation in a commuter highway vehicle

For employees using bicycle for commuting, employers will also be required to offer them a tax-free reimbursement for the purchase, maintenance, repair, and storage expenses incurred by the worker, the law firm explained in its website.

The amount in the benefit shall not go over $20 per month, according to Moylan and Grey, and eligible employees include those who have been working for the same employer for 12 months with at least 30 hours per week.

The bill will be sent to the office of Mayor Jim Kenney for signing before it becomes official. Once signed, it will be implemented starting...

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