Trainline: Workers would rather commute 4 hours to work than live near the office
During the pandemic, a wave of professionals left their urban jungle apartments for sprawling suburban homes in more scenic rural areas—and now, even as cities bounce back and offices reopen, they’d rather commute for hours on the train (or plane) than give up their new suburban lives.
New research from Trainline shows that the number of people in the UK spending more than three hours commuting to work and back — or “super commuting” — has doubled since before the pandemic.
While super commuters are typically defined as those who take at least 90 minutes one way to work, the train ticketing platform found that most actually spend at least two hours traveling each way.
Perhaps surprisingly, most remote workers aren’t among the lucky few who only have to be in the office once in a while.
Most people who have moved away from the office during the pandemic say they have hybrid working to thank (or blame) for their new commute habits and for being able to maintain a rural lifestyle after work.
On average, commuters commute to the office three days a week and, as a result, waste at least 12 hours – more than an entire working day – on the train each week, just sitting at their desk.
However, despite spending less time actually enjoying suburban life than those living closer to the office, three-quarters of commuters said they were happier because of it, and more than a third said they enjoy a better work-life balance.
Others admit that the long journey has been worth it because the cost of living in their suburbs has decreased.
Super commuting is a global phenomenon
Hypercommuting is not a UK-specific trend. According to research from US payroll and human resources services firm Payroll, the average distance to work has increased from 10 miles in 2019 to 27 miles by the end of 2023. interest.
According to their data, Millennials – most of whom are in their 30s and have settled down – live the furthest from their employers.
Take hairstylist Katlin Jay, for example: The 30-year-old travels 650 miles on a plane from Charlotte, NC to New York every two weeks.
But she said New York Post Office that she would pay less for commuting (about $1,000 a month) than she would for rent if she lived closer to work on the Upper West Side.
Meanwhile, back in Germany, a 32-year-old director is flying across the continent to London for work, trying to get the best of both worlds. But for those drawn to Seb’s lifestyle, he has a warning. Business insider that a five-hour commute is not sustainable in the long term.
But be warned: You may be asked to come back
Even now that it’s clear that most companies will be requiring their employees to be in the office for part of the week—and have undoubtedly heard colleagues complain about long commutes—Trainline’s research found that more than half of city-dwelling workers are eyeing the super-commuter club.
Why? Like today’s commuters, most think it will improve their work-life balance.
Sakshi Anand, Vice President of Growth at Trainline, said: “Hybrid working has fundamentally changed working and commuting habits over the past few years, as more and more people choose to commute. farther to be able to live and work where they want.”
“Our research shows that not only is bullet train ridership increasing, but this phenomenon is set to continue.”
But be careful: Bosses may ask you to choose between the office or suburban life.
Just last week, Patagonia informed remote customer service employees that they must now live within 60 miles of one of seven “hubs” in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Reno, Dallas, Austin, Chicago or Pittsburgh.
The sustainable outdoor brand has given its roughly 90 workers an ultimatum: move or give up.
Similarly, last year TikTok warned US workers whose home addresses were not within TikTok’s office footprint that they could lose their jobs if they do not relocate.
