When A Long Commute Makes Sense
In a tightening job market, employers have a tougher time filling job positions with qualified candidates. This leaves eligible employees with more flexibility in how they view the workforce. Existing workers find they are more satisfied in their roles because of greater job security, increased wages, other opportunities for movement or promotion, and their employers’ efforts to retain them.
However, when a lack of jobs is available, employees are willing to travel further distances to keep their employment, as opposed to a good labor market where employees tend to be pickier about their travel times. In regards to commuting and a tightening job market, it helps if employers search in surrounding localities for new positions, recognize the long commute and make it up in compensation/benefits, and consider adjusting work schedules to fit with employees’ needs.
Why Employees Embrace Their Travel Time To and From the Office
Some employees don’t mind a long commute because this might be. No matter your mode of transportation, it can be nice to have a chance to prepare for a presentation or a meeting with little or no distractions. Likewise, on the way home, your commute gives you a chance to wind down from your day before you face whatever responsibilities you have at home.
The distance and length to work all < g class="gr_ gr_24 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="24" data-gr-id="24">depends< /g> on the individual, but there are indeed people out there who like to make their morning coffee and enjoy it on their way to work while listening to the radio. This is a time to contemplate and recharge.
Employees Accept a Long Commute for a Higher Salary
According to, “extreme” commuters who drive long distances to their jobs in the city do it for the money. Employees with a long drive to work each day look at it as a tradeoff for being able to live in a more spacious home in the suburbs, flexible work hours, while making a higher salary, and having a job they like.
Keeping Healthy, Productive Employees That Don’t Mind the Commute
As an employer, it’s beneficial to look at creating a unique company culture, developing a recognition program, and team-building activities as ways to help offset an employee’s long commute to work. Realizing how far your employees come to put in a quality workday and thinking of ways to retain them can help keep them loyal and happy team members.