Many factors drive workers’
productivity. Recent research
from the U.K.’s Office of National Statistics found that people with a commute
of 45 minutes or longer reported feeling less satisfaction in their lives and
higher rates of anxiety. They also
rated their daily activities as less worthwhile than those who travel shorter
distances to work. The average worker
spends five weeks per year commuting, which demonstrates that our daily
commutes impact our everyday lives both in and outside of the workplace.
The mode of travel utilized for
commuting to work has a significant impact on how employees felt about their
commutes. Individuals who took the bus
to work reported much lower levels of satisfaction with their lives than their
non-commuting peers. Those who took a
train reported higher levels of anxiety.
Additionally, studies have shown that employees with long commutes cut
healthful activities out of their lives, allowing exercise, sleep, and
preparing fresh food to fall by the wayside.
Higher levels of stress can
likewise increase individuals’ dissatisfaction with their jobs, which can lead
to greater staff turnover. As employees
work with unhappy coworkers, they may internalize these feelings and choose to
leave the company themselves. A vicious
cycle begins with decreased productivity among employees as staff turnover
lowers the amount of productivity even further.
Should companies offer other
options for employees with a long commute?
Can workers overcome the negative impact of long commutes through their own stress-relief practices?
Can workers overcome the negative impact of long commutes through their own stress-relief practices?
What do you do personally to
improve the experience of commuting?
