Hytch Rewards app launches ‘Shelter in Place’ feature

Hytch Rewards, a technology solution that incentivizes smarter mobility decisions, announced Shelter in Place, a new feature for its popular mobile app. Designed to encourage behavior that will limit the spread of COVID-19, Shelter in Place will pay daily cash rewards to sponsored U.S. residents who self-quarantine at home.

As a growing number of states issue recommendations or legal orders for citizens to “shelter in place,” the Hytch platform will give employers and governments greater ability to confirm and manage compliance in a positive way. The cash rewards delivered through the app, which tracks a user’s location, are being funded by employers, governments, and brands that care about the well-being of their employees and communities.

Employers can offer Shelter in Place rewards to:

• Encourage employees to engage in safe and healthy habits that benefit themselves, their family, their team, and community.
• Ease the financial burden of being furloughed or having to telework.
• Ensure that work-from-home team members actually are at home Governments and corporate brands can offer cash rewards to incentivize sheltering in place for larger groups and populations.

Until now, the Hytch Rewards app has primarily been used to reward commuter behavior that reduces traffic congestion and emissions, or that encourages carpooling in areas with limited public transit. With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, many commuters are needing to become housebound.

Among the first employers to partner on the Shelter in Place initiative is the office of U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper, from Hytch Rewards’ home state of Tennessee.

“We’re offering a small daily reward via the Hytch app to thank my staff for working hard for my constituents, from home” said Cooper. “These are challenging times for public policy, and there’s great potential value in technology that enables communities to monitor and reward sheltering in place, for as long as policy demands.”

As a contribution to coronavirus response efforts, Hytch is waiving all set-up and monthly fees for any U.S. state or local government, or private employer of any size that joins the Shelter in Place program before April 10. There is no minimum contract. Potential partners can learn more here.

Originally posted on Metro Magazine