According to new research from Electric Radiators Direct, nearly half of UK employees that have worked remotely during the pandemic say the surge in energy prices is impacting their work location decision.

This has led nearly five million UK employees to consider whether they should leave behind remote working once winter hits.

The October energy price energy price cap caused the average cost of working from home to grow to £90.64 per month, or £1,088 per year. Compared to the average cost of commuting at £64, many are finding that the cost of remote working is becoming too much of a burden.

At the moment, UK workers can claim £6 per week tax relief to cover expenses such as gas and electricity, but even this perk is not enough to offset growing costs.

In the case of another work from home mandate, 22% of respondents said they would not turn their heat on during the winter. Additionally, 48% said they would be more mindful of their overall energy usage.

“While it’s almost inevitable the current energy crisis will impact us and our bills in some capacity, there are several ways to keep costs down and save energy, which is good for our planet and our wallets,” said Stephen Hankinson, Managing Director at Electric Radiators Direct. “For example, smart electric heating solutions allow you to control temperatures and make sure unused rooms aren’t unnecessarily heated, while some even allow you to access your energy consumption statistics through an app, so you can keep tabs on usage and know exactly how much money is going out.”