Despite the anytime, anywhere connectivity potential of mobile technology the daily commute is still regarded as wasted time for nearly a third of professionals, according to a survey from Regus.
The global workspace provider surveyed its customer base to establish whether commuting time was viewed as personal time, work time or simply wasted time.
For 31% of UK respondents, the daily struggle to and from the office is regarded only as time wasted.
According to the TUC, UK commuting times rose by three minutes a day between 2004 and 2014, from an average of 52 minutes to 55 minutes.
For many professionals, this time could be usefully spent responding to emails or drafting copy.
At the very least, commuters want the time to themselves to read, make personal calls or listen to music. However, the nature of today’s commute means that neither work nor personal tasks can be completed.
Richard Morris, UK CEO at Regus, said: “The stresses of the daily commute – particularly train travel - are well documented.
“Perhaps those getting a seat early on the route are able to complete a few tasks on the move. But joining the train further down the line results in cramped and uncomfortable conditions, which make even the simplest activities impossible.
“The bigger question for British business is – why persist with the commuting model? Why make employees spend unproductive time travelling to a central location and working to fixed hours that date back to Victorian times.
“Alternatives exist, and businesses of every size are investigating flexible work options that enable employees to work closer to home and to vary their hours to better suit their circumstances. Nobody benefits from this current commuting chaos.”
Darren - 27/09/2016 11:24
I couldn't agree more. It takes me anywhere between 45 minutes and an hour and a half to drive 20 miles each way to my job and back, for a job which is 90% online based. Even on my motorbike I struggle to get this journey down to 30 mins. This is 'my' time as it isn't part of my working day, but is just dead time I can't do anything with it. My company runs a large office space with AC, heating etc and most of us could be doing this from our own houses. The fuel which is wasted, the pollution that is created and the energy the office consumes all because we are not allowed (not trusted?) to do our jobs from the comfort of our own homes. If the government was serious in cutting congestion and pollution in the UK, they would encourage companies to employ a work from home ethos.