Commuting time and work-home distance differs from country to country. According to Eurostat, in 2019, employees from European Union countries counted an average of 25 minutes of commuting time to work. People in Latvia had the longest commuting (33 min.), followed by Hungary and Luxembourg (29 min.). The shortest commuting time was noted in Cyprus, with an average of 19 minutes.
A report released by U.S. Census Bureau shows that the average commuting time in the U.S. in 2006 was 25 minutes. In 2019, a 10% increase was marked – increasing the average time to 27.6 minutes.
From other data and literature reviewed, we see that the general suggestion for the acceptable distance is up to 30 minutes. An ideal or reasonable commuting distance from work to home relies heavily on the personal level so we will analyse some variables with the best key takes from both perspectives: the employees, and the HR.
AN EMPLOYEE PERSPECTIVE
What is Considered a Reasonable Commuting Distance
There isn’t an exact formula or rule on determining a reasonable or ideal distance to work, but there are some variables everyone should consider:
- Rush-hour traffic;
- Transportation/Gas Prices;
- Weather Issues
Rush-hour Traffic
If commuting time is taking place during rush hour, you have to consider that the commuting could be way prolonged. For example, if you leave work at 16:00 (the peak or rush hour in many countries) even a 15 min. could take hours. On the other hand, when the streets are free of cars, even a longer commute time could be experienced as pleasant and something you’ll look forward to.
Transportation Fees/Gas Prices
No matter if you’re relying on public transportation or using your own vehicle, the transportation fees and gas prices play an important to identify whether a commuting distance is considered reasonable or not.
For example, if your route to work takes around 30-40 minutes and you have to change trains and buses, the monthly fees depending on the country could be highly expensive. The same goes for gas prices – rapidly increasing, gas prices can count up to 8-10% of one’s salary.
Weather Issues
Depending on where you live and what temperatures your country is characterized by, commuting to work could be easier, or more difficult. For example, if your country has rainy weather and heavy snow in the winters, it means that routes to work could often be closed or inaccessible. You should consider alternative routes, just in case, before taking a job offer.
The above-elaborated variables are quite general and don’t fit exactly every transportation mean. For this reason, we want to also discuss commuting to work based on three different transportation means:
- Walking;
- Cycling;
- By car
Reasonable Commuting Distance for People Who Prefer to Walk
Walking is an excellent kind of exercise, so those who can’t find the time to work out outside of work frequently choose to walk to and from work. That is only possible, though, if the distance is manageable. It’s not a problem to walk a few blocks, but not everyone can live close to their place of employment.
If you believe that walking distance is manageable, we suggest answering the following questions to make your walking experience even more enjoyable:
- Do you use shoes that are suitable for work and comfy for walking? Or, after you get to work, can you change into other shoes?
- Is walking to work safely? During rush hour, how many roads must you cross?
- Will you be able to change into new clothes once you arrive if you perspire a lot while walking?
- Do you travel light?
Note: If you walk more than 20 minutes to work, don’t forget to bring water.
Reasonable Commuting Distance for Cycling
Cycling to work might be a great option if you want to save money, accelerate your pace, and still get some exercise. Since many modern cities feature cycle lanes, you won’t have to worry about getting stopped in traffic and you’ll get to work more quickly.
However, you must take into account whether you will be able to lock your bike up and park it at your place of employment.
15 to 20 minutes of cycling sounds ideal, it will do wonders for your health and you will not feel exhausted once you’re there. Same as with walking, you should consider whether you are able to change once you arrive to the office. Our recommendation is up to 30 minutes of cycling to work.
Reasonable Commuting Distance for Driving
To better show how much of your day you spend driving to work, consider the following examples for average driving distance to work:
- 1 commute hour equals 4.1%
- 2 hours of travel time equals 8.3%
- 3 hours of travel equals 12.5%
- A 4-hour commute equals 16.6%
If you reside in a large city, you are aware of how challenging it can be to commute by car, particularly during rush hour. Even though your office is only two miles away, the traffic can be horrendous. To decide if the distance to your workplace is actually too far, take into account the responses to the following questions:
- Are your regular commutes causing you to spend too much on gas and/or electricity?
- Do you dread making the long commute to work in the morning?
- Do you frequently arrive home after work late due to the distance?
Personal Level: Determining the Ideal Distance for Commuting to Work
As earlier mentioned, the ideal distance for commuting to work is subjective on a personal level. The salary you have determines how much are you willing to spend on transportation fees/gas money. For some individuals, having a certain commuting time to plan the day ahead, prepare for meetings or review the agenda is a great way to start the day. Others consider the commuting time as a space to listen to music and relax before starting their work day.
On the other hand, there are individuals who could consider a long commuting time stressful and useless. With viruses circulating (especially COVID-19), people are also scared that long commutes (especially with public transportation) could be an opportunity to catch numerous diseases and viruses – hence a shorter distance to work could be ideal.
What should you consider?
As an employee, to determine the ideal distance for commuting to work, please consider the three variables we analysed in accordance with the transportation means you choose and how much distance from home to work (vice-versa) time you can tolerate, personally.
Long Commuting: Make it Productive
Let’s say you commute 30 minutes each way to work every day. When working five days a week, it may feel that five hours are basically wasted on a weekly basis. There are a few methods to make that time feel more productive so that you don’t feel like you’ve wasted 30 minutes:
Play podcasts on a subject you want to learn more about.
- To maximize the productivity of your workplace time, schedule calls with clients or co-workers during these hours;
- Keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road by using Bluetooth;
- Listen to an audiobook on your field of work or to get new knowledge;
- Utilize this time to review your calendar and mentally be ready for the day;
- Make use of this opportunity to rehearse any speeches or presentations you may have.
Although five hours a week may not seem like much time, if you use them to learn something new or broaden your horizons, you will see a change and growth even within a month.
Long Commuting: Alternatives for Improvement
There are just a few solutions if the distance you are going is too much for your job. There may be some alternatives to long-distance travel for work, but they would require some very bold actions.
- Move closer to your place of employment;
- Make a deal with your boss to spend a few days working from home;
- Rent a modest home nearby your place of employment, and only return home on weekends;
These choices may be appropriate for you if you earn a lot of money or have your ideal career. Unfortunately, these solutions are frequently not feasible or not worthwhile in order to complete the task.
Working From Home vs. Commuting
Since I personally work from home, I wanted to give my insights on how working from home compares to commuting:
- Better work-life balance: Meaning I have flexible hours most of the time so I can control my time and schedule. I have the chance to prioritize my personal needs (but never neglect work);
- Less commute stress: I don’t have to worry about whether I’m waking up earlier enough to catch my bus, whether the weather is okay to take a walk or cycle or whether I have enough gas money for this month;
- Increased productivity: Since I don’t have to worry about so many things that come with commuting, I am more productive with my tasks.
A Hubble article states that: “Employees really appreciate the gains in time, money, and flexibility that come with not commuting”.
AN HR PERSPECTIVE
Long Commutes’ Impact on Employers
We’ve looked at a few of the negative effects on individuals of lengthy journey periods. While candidates try to find jobs within a short commuting distance from home to work, that isn’t always a possibility. All businesses have occurred to take on employees who have difficult commutes.
Long commutes can cause trouble for HR.
An Australian study found that workers who commuted a significant distance took more off days each month. The researchers think there are two causative elements:
- Firstly, those who commute a long distance tend to be more ill. This is a result of the additional strain that commuting brings; and the close distance with others on public transportation;
- Second, those who commute a significant distance are paid less in actual money. That is to say, two workers making the same income do not log the same amount of time at work. The employee who commutes for 1:30h spends more time on work-related chores than the employee who commutes for 30 minutes;
- Finally, on a positive note, by affecting cognitive abilities, a person’s choice of commute can affect work efficiency. Exercise enhances cognitive and brain processes that are crucial for performance. Commuters who use active transportation may perform better at work, few hours following exercise from cycling or walking to work.
How Far Can You Make an Employee Travel?
As earlier mentioned, what constitutes a fair daily travel distance is not specified by law or any general crowd definition. This means that there is no set legal maximum distance; rather, you should use common sense. Take into account any mobility clause’s reach, and assess local traffic patterns or travel circumstances depending on the long journey.
For instance, the wording of the employee’s employment contract and the reach of any mobility clause that permits relocation will decide what counts as a reasonable commuting distance from home to work.
The issue is primarily about giving them ample notice to find a new place to live when an employee’s mobility clause requires them to move to a different region of the country. Given that moving homes are frequently necessary, it is common for these types of mobility clauses to include stipulate or imply a provision for reasonable notice.
What will be deemed reasonable will depend on how the employee typically commutes to work and how much extra time will be needed. On the other hand, if the mobility clause’s scope only permits a more local move, or you’re relying on an implied term to justify a relocation, what will be considered reasonable will depend on how the employee typically commutes to work.
Traveling Costs
Any additional travel expenditures incurred as a result of the relocation should be specified in the employee’s contract. If there is no contractual provision to cover the expense of additional travel, it is not required to offer the employee any kind of payment.
You might want to consider what financial motivation you might offer to ease the transition if your employee’s relocation necessitates increased travel time and expense. Offering to make up for any losses to an employee may serve to allay concerns and promote goodwill among co-workers.
If there is no financial motivation, you run the danger of losing employee and having to pay for their replacement. As a result, if an employee argues that the travel time to their proposed new job is excessive, offering to pay for their travel costs or time may assist to make things right and put an end to any misunderstandings.
FROM BOTH PERSPECTIVES: MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE
For each person, there is a distinct ideal commute time. While some people would appreciate the reflective time before work, others might prefer to not commute at all. In 2000, A team of academics found that the best commute duration for their sample of more than 1,000 commuters was 16 minutes – practically half of the American average as it stands at the moment.
For employees: The majority of commutes, when compared to compensation and how much you like your job, are totally reasonable. At the beginning of every year, it’s a good idea to periodically review your commute and see whether any adjustments are necessary. This will enable you to keep everything under control and assess your career on a bigger scale.
For HR: First, consider how valuable your team members are to you and how far are you willing to go to ease their distance from work to home and vice versa. Identify how the distance from work is affecting your employees (both positively and negatively) and understand ways you can help.
Further Reading:
Structured Workplace Learning
Best HR Podcasts
Excessive Absenteeism: When is the Time for Termination?
