Philip Lee is the first Irish law firm to achieve accreditation as a Cycle Friendly Employer (CFE).
The Cycle-Friendly Employer Award is an EU-wide programme established in 2017 by the European Cyclists’ Federation to encourage more people to cycle to work across the EU. Employers can be awarded gold, silver or bronze accreditation. Philip Lee has been awarded gold.
As one of Ireland’s leading law firms, Philip Lee is committed to providing a first-class employee experience and to reducing its carbon footprint.
“Becoming a cycle-friendly employer was a natural step for us,” said Philip Lee, Chairman of the firm.
“We have always been enthusiastic supporters of cycling. Firstly, from an environmental point of view, it is a great zero carbon way to commute. Cycling also has real, measurable health and de-stressing benefits. It is an efficient, low cost way to travel – plus it can be great fun! We have hosted charity cycle days for clients and colleagues with great success. We are delighted to have made the gold grade in becoming a Cycle Friend Employer.”
The Cycle Friendly Employer Scheme provides a proven roadmap and flexible model for cycle-friendliness which the firm’s Green Team can adapt to fit their specific needs. Philip Lee has a long history of advocating for employee wellness, an ethos which is underpinned by its Wellness Committee. The firm has implemented many employee wellness initiatives including step challenges, yoga and mindfulness talks in support of employees’ physical, mental and nutritional health. The ethos and goals of the CFE programme fit easily into Philip Lee’s employee wellness strategies and provide a measurable, scalable model which the team can build on into the future.
The team at Philip Lee has embraced cycling as its main form of transport wherever possible; employees are encouraged to choose cycling over car travel for professional appointments. Earlier this year, they signed up for Dublin City Council’s electric cargobike pilot scheme. In addition, on-site bike mechanic services and bike demo days will be made available to employees to improve employee bike education and encourage cycling uptake.
“We are delighted that the team at Philip Lee has achieved gold CFE accreditation,” said Michael O’Boyle, CEO of Cycling Solutions Ireland. “Gaining gold accreditation is no mean feat and is a testament to Philip Lee’s commitment to its employee experience and decarbonisation goals. Congratulations to all involved.”