Commuting to work affects many employees today. However, very few people are aware of the consequences. The risk of chronic illness is more than ten percent higher than for employees who do not have to commute to work.
For many companies, the importance of commuting tends to take a back seat, as firms often focus on the economic aspect. However, in the long term, it makes sense to focus on employee satisfaction and reduce commuting.
But how do you define commuting? According to traffic researchers, commuting means leaving your own community to get to work. Approximately 19.3 million people in Germany are affected by this problem. The average commute is 17 kilometers, and in small towns it is even over 30 kilometers.
The biggest problem is that long commutes can have serious consequences. A chief physician at the German Clinic for Integrative Medicine and Natural Healing reports that a commute should not be longer than 45 minutes. With a ten-hour working day, including commuting and lunch breaks, this puts the body to the test in terms of patience and stress, according to a professor of occupational psychology in Leipzig.
The result of this problem is usually mental illness among those affected. The Techniker Krankenkasse health insurance company shared the results of a study which showed that absenteeism among commuters is 11 percent higher than among employees who work in the immediate vicinity. In addition, the risk of separation in a relationship is many times higher, especially for those affected who are only at home on weekends.
The physical health of commuters also suffers from long journeys to work. Studies have shown that they suffer more frequently from headaches, back pain, and stomach aches. Other consequences include obesity due to sitting for long periods of time, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and sleep disorders.
There are various approaches to solving this problem. The first option, for example, is to introduce flexible working hours. This helps commuters plan their journeys so that they avoid rush hour traffic. Alternatively, an annual ticket for public transportation could be introduced or even a gym membership to promote physical activity. Furthermore, if possible, employees could work from home on a permanent basis. This would eliminate the need for a long commute.
In conclusion, it can be said that the location of a company plays a very important role. You should ensure that it is easily accessible by public transport and focus on the places where your employees live so that they do not have to travel long distances to work.
