Reducing the time employees spend in their cars is one of the best things a business can do for itself, according to a new report published by Avison Young, a major Canadian real estate company with significant presence in the U.S.
"The verdict from employees is clear," states the report. "They do not like long commutes and they are willing to make sacrifices in order to minimize commuting time."
Allowing workers to telecommute more often or setting them up with ride-sharing or public transportation options will make workers happier, more productive and help the company save money on accommodating parking.
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Contrary to widely-held assumptions, employees who are allowed to do their jobs remotely actually spend more time working than they do when they go into the office, the report says. Because while they might take advantage of telecommuting to get some extra sleep or make a gourmet breakfast, the average employee actually devotes 60 percent of the time that they would otherwise spend commuting to work.
The report also asserts that telecommuters are less likely to take sick days or personal days to escape work.
Of course, while workers enjoy the flexibility of working from home, they also appreciate the savings from avoiding commutes. That means less financial stress, which has been shown to be a major distraction in the workplace.
If it's not feasible for companies to allow employees to telecommute often or even sometimes, they can still do a lot for themselves and their workers by locating in what the report calls a transit-oriented development (TOD), which is easily accessible by public transportation and walking.
That would reduce the number of workers who drive to work, which in turn reduces the employer's obligation to provide parking. When a company is spending less money and space on parking, it frees up both for more valuable uses of office space.
Equally important for companies is that many workers are happier when their work is located near their home and other amenities, including retail and restaurants. A consideration the report neglects, however, is that office space in densely-populated or densely-trafficked areas with access to transit is typically more expensive.
And of course, reducing commutes is good for the world. Getting cars of the road means fewer accidents and fewer emissions that harm human health and the environment.
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