3 commute challenges for COVID-19 times

A lot of things have changed during the pandemic, and one of the biggest changes for workers has been how they get to the office. As businesses are looking to reopen, they can help their employees feel safe and comfortable on their way there. 

Keep reading for the 3 challenges we’ve identified that employers will have to tackle as they look to return to the office, or skip right to our in-depth guide and download our ebook Reimagining the daily commute.

According to a recent Uber for Business study, 77% of workers state that they will be avoiding taking public transit for their daily commute. As businesses look to bring their workers back to downtown and other metropolitan areas that rely on public transportation, they might be able to offer assistance to their workers.

Businesses are going to need to look for new ways to get their employees to and from the office while considering their safety and well-being. Traditional commute programs might not fit the needs of the new workplace landscape, so it’s a good idea to start getting creative now.

Commuting has always been stressful. Long before COVID-19, workers would complain about long commutes sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic or sandwiched between other riders. In fact, research suggests that 85% of workers would take a decrease in pay in exchange for lower commute times. 

Time spent commuting to work is dead time, and workers are accumulating a lot of it. According to the US Census Bureau, 17% of the US workforce loses 16 days per year to getting to and from work.

Does that time have to be wasted doing something that workers almost universally find stressful? Perhaps companies can find new ways for their employees to commute where they aren’t doing the driving.

With more people relying on driving, that presents the challenge of how to manage all those vehicles. Many companies that were running shuttles before COVID-19 are having to look for ways to restart them safely or find alternative ways to get employees that last mile.

While shuttle buses help to bridge the gap, they present many of their own, expensive, challenges. Moreover, putting your employees into a single vehicle might not go over well with them. Looking to existing transportation services can help supplement your shuttles or aid in moving employees during off-peak hours.

Commuting is going to see some big changes as businesses return to the office. We might see employees looking for less-crowded options for their daily commutes. And their tolerance for long, stressful drives may be diminished.

As you’re looking to provide transportation offerings while considering your employees’ comfort and well-being, take a look at our latest guide, Reimagining the daily commute, for some ideas on how to leverage ridesharing. Tap the button below to download.