According to recent research, the cost of travel has risen significantly since the pandemic, making it less appealing for workers to return to the office. However, a survey by Ringover found that 8 out of 10 employees would be more willing to return to the office if their commute was paid for by their employer.
Workers mentioned that longer commutes can disrupt their work-life balance, making returning to the office less appealing. The average cost of travel includes gas, car maintenance, lost income, car insurance and more. This is a significant increase from 2019 when the average annual cost of travel was much lower.
While commute times have decreased in some cities since the pandemic, the average one-way trip to the office is still about 27 minutes. There are exceptions to this trend as some “super commuters” are willing to spend significant amounts on travel to save on other expenses. These workers may have moved to more affordable cities during the pandemic but continue to work in more expensive urban areas. They find that the savings on rent outweigh the cost and inconvenience of long-term travel.
Employers looking to lure employees back to the office should consider practical benefits like covering travel expenses rather than perks like ping pong tables or free snacks. It is clear that commuting costs have become a major factor in worker’s decisions about returning
