The Rise In Gas Prices Might Influence A Rise In Remote Work

As companies recall workers back to the office, some people are reconsidering how often they commute to the office due to the expense of gas at the moment.

Gas prices are skyrocketing at a time when millions of employees are being asked to come back into the office. The commute to work is now more expensive than ever, making remote work look more and more attractive.

Across the country, the national average for a gallon of gas is currently $4.19, according to AAA.

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Fuel costs jumped more than 20% in early March, pushing prices up a whopping 50% from a year ago, according to GasBuddy.

Matt Becker, former White House Liaison to the U.S. Small Business Administration said, “With gas prices still above $4 per gallon, remote work is a very attractive solution to this issue and a large factor for job seekers weighing the benefits of employment opportunities.”

Ravin Jesuthasan, a workplace expert with consulting firm Mercer, said some of his corporate clients have recently put the brakes on recalling workers back to the office because of concerns over soaring gas costs.

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People who can work from home should do so, in order to reduce national gasoline consumption and reduce the impact on people who cannot work from home.

“Employers would be wise to allow flexibility when employees have well-rooted concerns about the rising price of energy,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told CBS MoneyWatch.

The situation is less flexible for factory workers or others who perform physical labor, with high fuel costs even leading some to quit their jobs to search for work closer to home.