Zurich Financial Services is offering its staff reduced rate travel on public transport to encourage them to be more environmentally-friendly.

Employees will be given the option to purchase an annual bus pass paid for in monthly deductions from their pay cheque - allowing them to save tax and National Insurance contributions through a salary-sacrifice arrangement.

The Greentravel2work scheme, provided by benefits supplier P&MM, has been developed in support of the Government's plan to increase bus journeys by 12% by 2012.

Pete Steer, director of UK HR payroll and benefits at Zurich, said: "With offices based around the UK, it was important to install a travel benefit that could cater for all our staff. It has been a great success with approximately 3% of employees taking up the benefit immediately."