Commutes Suck – But Is There A Middle Ground?

The dreaded commute has long been the topic of watercooler small talk, with professionals comparing how long it took them to drive over that historically traffic-ridden bridge.  

Even as remote work has become a mainstay across modern businesses, 75% of Americans still say traveling to work is the biggest concern about returning to the office.   

There are a few reasons for this — commutes are expensive, stressful and a waste of time according to many professionals. 

Although being in the office some of the time may be necessary for certain roles, being able to reduce the number or length of commutes can have a huge impact on the employee experience. While some may argue that there is never a need for a commute, there are still benefits to traveling into an office.  

For starters, working fully remotely can lead to work-life blur, which is one of the key elements of burnout. By traveling to the office — or any office — professionals have a distinct divide between their work-related environment and the comfort of their homes.  

Having a specific place to go to also encourages workers to adopt a daily schedule of getting ready for the day, a common suggestion for a healthy, productive work day. On the other hand, working remotely makes it easy to roll out of bed and head straight to work (or your kitchen counter). 

In short, there are clear pros and cons to the daily commute, but going into a workplace doesn’t necessarily have to mean traveling into busy city centers. Instead, businesses can embrace flexible or coworking spaces that are closer to workers’ homes, allowing them to enjoy the spoils of an office environment without the stress associated with long commutes.