“Are we there yet?” Reading those words, you’re probably picturing a child impatiently waiting for a long car trip to be over. But adults stuck in congested traffic during their commute can find themselves saying the same thing. Keep reading to see how you can boost employee satisfaction with commuter benefits.
Define “Average” Commute
On average, commuters sit in traffic for an estimated 38 hours per year. Commuters in larger cities—Washington DC, Los Angeles, and San Francisco—sit in congestion for more than 60 hours per year. Cringing yet?
“10 minutes of commuting results in 10 percent fewer social connections.”
Previously, Huffington Post shed light on the downside of commuting featuring Harvard University political scientist Robert Putnam: “There’s a simple rule of thumb: Every 10 minutes of commuting results in 10 percent fewer social connections. Commuting is connected to social isolation, which causes unhappiness.” Is there a way to overcome the negative effects of commuting that employees face? Thankfully, yes.
3 Steps to Boost Employee Satisfaction
Boost employee satisfaction with commuter benefits by promoting the use of mass transit. Commuting via mass transit provides several benefits:
- First, it reduces stress levels by making commuting more predictable. When commuters don’t have to worry about delays from unforeseen traffic congestion, they can relax.
- Second, commuting is (often) less time-consuming because mass transit follows a specific arrival and departure timetable. This translates into greater scheduling flexibility for employees to dedicate to activities of their choice.
- Finally, it saves money. Money isn’t everything, but researchers at Cornell University found that where you spend money impacts your happiness levels. Specifically, money spent on experiences rather than material goods resulted in higher levels of happiness.
The Take-Home Message
To produce happier, more productive employees, introduce (or promote) a commuter program. It will save them time and money to put toward personal and work activities, ultimately boosting their overall life satisfaction. If you’d like to learn about how you can boost employee satisfaction with commuter benefits, check out our video blog and contact Benefit Resource today!
