New Survey Reveals: A Free Commute Would Entice 8 out of 10 Employees to Return to the Office

A recent survey by Ringover of 1,038 workers revealed that a free commute would entice 8 out of 10 employees to return to the office. The average cost of commuting has increased significantly since the pandemic, with workers spending an average of $8,466 annually on expenses such as gas, car maintenance, and lost income. This is a significant increase from 2019 when the average annual cost of commuting was much lower. Despite decreased commute times in some cities, the average one-way office commute is still around 27 minutes.

While some “super commuters” are willing to spend considerable amounts on their commute in order to save on other expenses, there are exceptions to this trend. These workers may have moved to more affordable cities during the pandemic but continue to work in more expensive metropolitan areas. They find that the savings on rent outweigh the costs and inconvenience of a long-term commute. Employers looking to attract employees back to the office should consider practical benefits like covering commuting costs rather than perks such as ping pong tables or free snacks.