More and more, businesses are getting creative with health and wellness benefits. From extra paid time off to recharge,[1] nap rooms,[2] meditation, and even massages, companies are really leaning into work-life balance. Along with tracking productivity, companies are focusing on employee experience (EX) to keep their teams engaged and happy.

What about a perk that is practical, healthy, and gives your workers a boost? Consider offering your employees a company bike leasing program (including e-bike leasing). They get to choose a bike–and not just any bike, their dream bike!--while your company gets a hassle-free process and the benefits of a happier, physically active workforce.

With the e-bike revolution in full swing, Lease a Bike allows your employees to try out a high-end commuter or mountain e-bike with an extended range or a cargo bike they can use for family trips around town. Or, if they prefer a more classic option, employees can also choose from an array of road, mountain, or gravel bikes to let them venture near or far with this workplace cycling program.

Best of all, Lease a Bike’s employer program is a simple way to help employees feel great (cycling releases endorphins that boost mood and reduce stress[4]), improve health (cycling can lower cholesterol and body fat[5]), and even save on transportation costs.

Learn more

What is a company bike leasing program?

A company bike leasing or e-bike leasing program means the employer partners with a leasing company to provide bikes and e-bikes for their employees. Employees can use these bikes for commuting and/or personal rides, with most leases lasting about 24 months. Although several terms are available to choose from.

Employees pay an affordable monthly rate for a bike, which covers maintenance, repairs, and theft/damage protection. This makes bike ownership hassle-free and lets employees try out different types of bikes, like the road bike of their dreams, without the upfront expense. At the end of the lease, employees can buy the bike at a discount or try a new one with a fresh lease.

Benefits for employees

Cycling supports both mental and physical health. It’s not just endorphins—the latest research shows that moderate to vigorous exercise can improve brain function [6]. Plus, who doesn’t feel better after a bike ride rather than sitting in traffic?

Leasing a bike can also be easier on the budget. Instead of a significant upfront cost, employees can pay for their dream bike with a fixed monthly fee. Leasing can be cheaper than paying off a credit card purchase, which is especially helpful with high-end e-bikes that can run over $12,000.

Leasing also brings flexibility. With so many new bike models out there, employees get to try the newest and best options before settling on something they love.

Why it’s great for your company

Cycling boosts both mood and focus, so employees show up to work more energized and productive. That means fewer sick days and higher productivity (employees who get at least 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week miss an average of 4.1 fewer days of work per year, according to a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health report). [7] And, bike leasing is a win-win: it keeps employees healthier while reducing company costs on things like parking or transit subsidies.

Adding bike leasing to your employee wellness program could even impact your insurance costs. If more employees are active and less prone to chronic conditions, your company may benefit from lower premiums. A study of General Motors employees found that employees who exercised two to three times per week decreased their annual paid health care costs by $250 compared to inactive employees, according to the same Johns Hopkins report.

With Lease a Bike, managing the program is straightforward. Once you sign up online (it only takes five minutes!), your company can access the Lease a Bike portal, choose options, and send a link to employees to get them started. You can also track sign-ups through a real-time dashboard.

Boost employee recruitment and retention

Today’s workforce values work-life balance and sustainability. This is especially true for younger generations. In fact, work-life balance was the top factor for job satisfaction among U.S. adults surveyed in 2022 [8]. By offering a bike leasing program, employers can show that they’re serious about work-life balance, sustainable employee benefits, and environmentally conscious values that resonate with their workforce.

When a company shares its employees’ values, it sees a return on that investment in the form of retention and company morale. According to a 2023 report on work-life balance by Johns Hopkins University, sustainability-focused companies also attract top young talent. [9]

Choosing the right bike lease provider

Here’s what to look for when choosing a bike leasing partner:

• Monthly costs: Look for a program where the monthly fee includes bike lease payments, theft/damage protection, and maintenance all rolled into one monthly cost.
• Custom lease terms: Contract terms should be flexible so employees can choose a monthly payment plan that fits their budget. Lease a Bike’s contracts are between 12 and 36 months and they also offer different maintenance packages so employees can manage costs.
• Bike options: Consider the range of bikes available. Lease a Bike, for example, offers most any bike type and brand. Your choice is endless with a broad selection of commuter, recreational, road, mountain, gravel, and e-bikes of all kinds.
• Bike shop network: Make sure the leasing company has a network of shops near your business or where employees live for easy access to bikes, repairs, servicing, and maintenance.
• Experienced provider: Lease a Bike’s model, which originated in Europe, has been in the bike leasing business for over a decade. 75,000 companies in Europe use our award-winning portal to administer their programs. We make it seamless and easy.
• Easy administration: Make sure the program isn’t complicated to administer. Lease a Bike’s online portal makes rolling out and managing the program easy for Human Resources and Benefits departments and easy for the employee with their dashboard. Easily start, maintain, and make changes in your entire program or for individual employees through the robust portal.
• Cancellation policy: Know the provider’s terms around cancellations. Good programs include special cancellations for reasons like parental leave, termination of the employee, or other major events that change the relationship between employee and employer.

Join the ride

Bike leasing offers a real return on investment. Physical and mental health, job satisfaction, morale, and company loyalty all get a boost when companies care about their employees and their values. On average, employers with a Lease a Bike program earn an employee satisfaction rating of 8.6 out of 10 [10].

With a simple, automated system and a network of local bike shops, Lease a Bike makes bike leasing an enjoyable, community-driven benefit with plenty of extra perks. Once an employee has their bike, the real journey begins!

“It’s so cool and HUMAN to feel the satisfaction of knowing, ‘I move myself with the force of my body to get to and from work every day.’ It just feels right and it’s such a good way to begin and end the work day.” — a bike commuter on Reddit

Bike leasing and e-bike leasing have big benefits for employers. Companies that provide bike leasing programs could realize healthier, happier employees, commuter advantages, and productivity boosts.

Learn more about the difference that bike leasing can make within your organization and join the ride!

(1) Companies with the Best Work-Life Balance in 2024, Purpose Jobs
(2) Why napping at work can make you better at your job, Fast Company
(3) Billion-dollar startup TransferWise has a sauna inside its office, Business Insider
(4-5) 12 Benefits of Cycling, Plus Safety Tips, Healthline.com
(6) Our research seeks to understand how riding a bike impacts how we think, feel, and behave. Outridebike.org
(7) Physical Activity in the Workplace, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
(8) Work Life Balance Outranks an Easy Commute and Paths to Promotion…, Forbes.com
(9) Gen Z in the Workplace: How Should Companies Adapt?, Johns Hopkins University
(10) FAQ for employers, Lease-a-bike.com