As higher commuting costs hit employees returning to workplaces across the UK, two-thirds of professionals want to see employers subsidise regular work travel.
A poll of 2,000 white-collar workers found that 66 percent said the most important work cost that employers could help with was commuting. Respondents put this above benefits for tech equipment, food and health/wellness options, according to the findings from recruitment firm Robert Walters.
The vast majority (84 percent) of respondents said they do not receive any financial support for travel costs from their employer.
Pre-pandemic commuting
Before the pandemic, average commuting costs were between 6-10 percent of professionals’ salaries. With the rise of remote and home working, today UK professionals spend an average of between 1-5 percent of their monthly salary on commuting.
However, Robert Walters said that more days in the office could push commuting costs closer to pre-pandemic levels. And with inflation and cost of living rises, it could take an even bigger bite out of pay packets.
Further data from the recruitment firm showed that a third of professionals in London already spend more than £200 commuting to work each month. The same amount is spent each month by a quarter of professionals based in the Midlands.
Hushed hybrid
The recruitment firm found that work-life balance remains a top priority for many professionals. Research confirmed that 60 percent were willing to stay in a lower-paid job if it offered greater flexibility, rather than moving jobs just for higher pay.
And this week, 200 UK companies signed up to move to a permanent four-day working week.
The findings come as some major employers have put in place RTO mandates including advertising giant WPP, JPMorgan Chase, Amazon, ASOS and Boots.
Earlier this month, Lord Rose and Lord Sugar were criticised for their negative comments about home working as former CEO of Pregnant Then Screwed Joeli Brearley said their opinions were not evidence based.
However, while some leaders want greater office attendance, two fifths (41 percent) of UK managers admit they’ll look at implementing ‘hushed hybrid’ to allow their staff to quietly work from home to maintain flexibility.
Habiba Khatoon, director of Robert Walters Midlands, said: “Calls for a return to office have only got louder this year, as leaders increasingly view them as being key to enhancing productivity and workplace culture.
“However, as the pandemic gave rise to hybrid working as a standard, RTO mandates could leave many professionals with longer, more expensive journeys into the office.
“We’re already noticing how an increasingly high cost-of-living, along with professionals being faced with longer commutes and travel disruptions are influencing what they expect and value in employer offerings.
“Yet with tightened budgets, rises in minimum wage and employer tax expected in April – many employers will struggle to give them exactly what they want.”
She said: “Rather than firms engaging in traditional salary wars – this year, we could see companies compete by ramping up travel subsidies, flexibility or allowing staff to commute during off-peak periods to help combat rising costs.”
Hybrid-working has been a key working arrangement for many professionals since 2019, she said, and while some will be determined to maintain this, others may be more willing (and able) to make a full-time move back to the office.
“Employers will no doubt need to re-evaluate their attraction and retention strategies – figuring out what a ‘good employment offer’ means this year – especially to professionals with increasingly diverse needs,” Khatoon said.
