The long and winding road: Reducing commuting

The number of commuters spending an hour or more travelling to work has increased dramatically over the last decade, fuelling new demands for flexible working. Sandra Beale looks into the role HR has to play.

Commuting times in the UK over the last 10 years have risen dramatically. It has now become part of the UK work culture, with potentially negative effects on both the individual and the company alike.

In fact, recent research by Work Wise UK has shown that UK workers have the second-longest average daily commute in Europe.

Long hours stuck on the road in traffic jams or on an overcrowded train, often with no spare seating, impacts on the quality of life for the individual and can cause stress demonstrated by headaches, queasy stomachs and rocketing blood pressure.

This can create a heavy burden on health. For the company, this can impact on the bottom line as productivity reduces due to exhausted staff who cannot deliver their full potential.