Are you a super commuter or do you read your morning work emails in your pajamas while having breakfast in your home office?
It might not be long before those situations define our work life. The trends in the commuting landscape are pointing that workers will be at opposite ends of the commuting spectrum in the years ahead. There very well could come a day when we either have a long commute to work or never leave “the office.”
Read more: How Long Commutes Hurt Employees
Long commute is changing the workforce
The changes are coming because the data shows massive changes in the workforce. The number of super commuters, those who travel more than 90 minutes to work one-way, has increased 31.7 percent since 2005, according to Apartment List. That’s 3.5 million Americans, about 2.9 percent of the workforce facing long days of public transit and drives just to get to and from work.
Meanwhile, the number of remote workers has increased 76 percent over the same time period, according to Apartment List. About 5.6 million work from home now, which is more than 3 percent of the workforce.
Trends in employee benefits like flexible work time, permanent or partial remote work and commuter benefits can help ease the negative impact long commutes have on employees.
One factor in long commutes is cost. The average worker can spend anywhere from $2,000-$5,000 annually on commuting costs, depending on the state where they live the type of transportation and other factors.
Commuter benefits can help employees reduce some of those commuting costs. Employees can save up to $270 per month that is not taxed. The money can be applied to public transit, rideshares, or qualified parking costs. Commuting is a great option for employees because it can allow them to save up to 40 percent of the cost of their commute.
With a decreased payroll tax, businesses can save too. They pay less in taxes and save on average up to $41 per month for every employee enrolled in the program. A company with 50 employees can save $24,000 annually, for example.
While super commuters and remote workers are still in the minority, more and more workers will fall into those work situations in the year ahead. If you’re a super commuter or have employees that have a long trip every day, it pays to use commuter benefits.
Want to learn more about commuter benefits? Watch the video below:
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