It’s time to make bosses pay for the commute

Taken for a ride — As workforces are summoned back into the office, a new campaign is calling for half of all fares to be covered by employers. We ought to see commuting as unpaid labour, argues writer Ella Glover.

The pandemic has thrown into stark relief many of the problems that come with working 40 hours a week in an office building, often for no good reason. The shift to working from home was more than a temporary fix to a short-term problem: even before England’s second lockdown last winter, 57 per cent of those working before the pandemic had decided they never wanted to go back to the office

There are many qualms to be had with offices, such as how it impacts work-life balance, constant small talk and a lack of opportunities for those in centralised industries. But perhaps one of the biggest disadvantages of travelling to and from the office everyday is just that: the commute, and the money it tends to eat up. 

Pre-pandemic, the average commute was 29 minutes there and back. For those traveling by train, this rises to 59 minutes there and back – the equivalent of 55 days per year. Not only is this unpaid work, it is work that is costing employees money, essentially offsetting their salary. Since the pandemic, home workers nationwide have saved on average £126 a month by not commuting. According to Autonomy, a think tank focusing on the future of work and economic planning, commuters spent so much on transport before the pandemic, that 27 per cent of overall rail industry income came out of commuters’ pockets.

This is why last month, Autonomy released a report titled “Claim the Commute” that puts forward a solution to the burden of commuting costs which fall on employees, and incentivises people to use more environmentally friendly modes of transport to commute to work post-pandemic. 

“‘Claiming the Commute’ requires employers to pay for half of the commuting costs of their workforce that pertain to (more environmentally-friendly) modes of transport,” the report’s executive summary reads. “Such a scheme would save the working population billions of pounds every year, and will help rein out of control transport fares. Up to 20 million workers would see increases in real incomes. In the case of rail commutes, for example, £2.6 billion would return to the pockets of commuters should the scheme be fully rolled out.”

According to Autonomy, travel costs for someone on the National Living Wage for over 25s could take up 11 per cent of their gross weekly income and, for workers based in outer London on the same hourly wage, these costs could be as high as 21 per cent. For low income households – particularly in areas with the longest commute times – this might mean limited work opportunities for those unable to afford the cost of the commute. This has been dubbed ‘transport poverty’. 

Plus, with more people choosing to travel by car due to insufficient public transport, the cost to the environment can’t be discounted. A revamped Cycle to Work Scheme – one which accounts for those on temporary contacts or in low-paid work which often precedes the minimum requirements to pay for National Insurance – could make cycling a more desirable option for commuters who are able.  

Not only does the commute cost employees money, it also costs us time, cutting into work-life balance and leaving little time for care duties, both for our families and for ourselves. Despite choosing “free” modes of transport like walking or cycling in my last office job, my one-way commute was either a 45 minute walk or 25 minute cycle, adding an extra 7.5 hours to my salaried work week – almost the equivalent of a whole day.

While commuting time isn’t legally recognised as indistinct from work time, it’s impossible to call this “free time” – that is, unless your hobby is running for a packed train in the height of summer, or cycling through a snowstorm mid-January. This is a type of unpaid labour similar to unpaid overtime. Just because workers aren’t performing any tasks relevant to their role at work, they’re taking part in something which directly benefits their employer – sometimes even to their own detriment. 

As Nic Murray, one of the authors of the report, notes: “Many key workers have spent the last 18 months commuting, putting themselves at risk on crowded trains and buses and having to pay for the privilege.”

While a scheme like the one proposed by Autonomy may cause employers to attempt to recruit locally, cutting their own costs and the opportunities of those in less-metropolitan areas, Murray suggests making residential addresses a protected characteristic. This would mean that applicants and interviewees can reserve the right to not disclose their place of residence in the application or interview process. 

Either way, any potential pushback from employers must be countered. After all, if subsidising employees for home office equipment was feasible during the pandemic, why shouldn’t employers compensate employees for their hard-earned cash and precious time spent on the commute?

Follow Ella Glover on Twitter

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


Ad

Latest on Huck

Two young women making silly facial expressions, one with a grey coat and the other in a black coat, in front of a white building.
Culture

Tender, carefree portraits of young Ukrainians before the war

Diary of a Stolen Youth — On the day that a temporary ceasefire is announced, a new series from photographer Nastya Platinova looks back at Kyiv’s bubbling youth culture before Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion. It presents a visual window for young people into a possible future, as well as the past.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Four people posing for a portrait, wearing black outfits against a bright red background. The text "Hush presents Analogue Appreciation" is overlaid in yellow and green lettering.
Music

Analogue Appreciation: 47SOUL

Dualism — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, it’s Palestinian shamstep pioneers 47SOUL.

Written by: 47SOUL

A punk rock band performing on stage, with a female lead singer belting into a microphone. Behind them, a colourful mural with graffiti-style text.
Music

Meet the hair-raised radicals of Berlin’s noise punk scene

Powertool — In his new zine, George Nebieridze captures moments of loud rage and quiet intimacy of the German capital’s bands, while exploring the intersections between music, community and anti-establishment politics.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Group of people dancing at a live music performance, with a large "Spaces Beats" sign in the background.
Music

Amid tensions in Eastern Europe, young Latvians are reviving their country’s folk rhythms

Spaces Between the Beats — The Baltic nation’s ancient melodies have long been a symbol of resistance, but as Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, new generations of singers and dancers are taking them to the mainstream.

Written by: Jack Styler

A person's face surrounded by colourful flowers. The flowers include orange, red, and yellow dahlias, as well as smaller yellow blooms. The person's expression is serious.
Music

Uwade: “I was determined to transcend popular opinion”

What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Nigerian-born, South Carolina-raised indie-soul singer Uwade.

Written by: Uwade

Taxidermy alligator with a small monkey sitting on its head, displayed on a wooden shelf with other items.
Culture

Inside the obscured, closeted habitats of Britain’s exotic pets

“I have a few animals...” — For his new series, photographer Jonty Clark went behind closed doors to meet rare animal owners, finding ethical grey areas and close bonds.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Huck is supported by our readers, subscribers and Club Huck members. It is also made possible by sponsorship from:

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.