Could an Office Move Cut Your Commuting Time?
Commuting times have grown for many people across the UK over recent years. An increasing number of employees spend an hour or even more travelling each way, while commuting times can be much worse in some areas such as London or other congested inner cities
Problems with Commuting
A recent research study by the TUC showed that, nationally, more than 3 million people now commute for 2 hours or more each day – representing a rise of over 72% in a decade. Over the same time period, there has been an even steeper 75% rise in the numbers commuting for 3 hours or longer daily, with 880,000 commuters now falling into this bracket. When trains run late or there is heavy traffic congestion, commuting can easily take even longer, making staff arrive late for work.
Commuting for lengthy periods each day takes away a large amount of your staffs leisure time. It is also expensive for the individual and potentially damaging for the environment through the pollution caused.
In health terms, long daily commutes can exacerbate conditions such as high blood pressure and back problems. Journeys also cause stress, which may be especially damaging for business owners. Often entrepreneurs tend to work long days and are usually the ones who have to stay late when work piles up. A lot of travel on top of already extended working hours can add up to a punishing schedule.
A long journey to the office can mean staff are already feeling tired when they arrive at work, affecting productivity. Travelling may also be a factor in making it harder to recruit and retain staff. If a workplace is hard to get to, then employees may decide to work nearer their own homes instead.
What’s the Answer?
Offering more flexible hours can help to cut the amount of time spent commuting, and small businesses have shown the way forward in embracing these working practices. For instance, many companies find that staggered start and end times, avoiding 9am and 5pm, mean staff can get to and from the office more easily. Allowing employees to do some work from home, perhaps via mobile devices, is another way to cut out travelling.
Another option which may be helpful for many small businesses is to consider a move to a more suitable business location which is easily accessible for both your staff and customers, or even working from ho