They say, “time is money,” and data shows that someone who spends an extra 20 minutes commuting to and from work could experience the same level of job dissatisfaction as someone who gets a 19% pay cut.
And who can blame them? A longer commute to work means more time spent on work-related tasks and less time for managing personal life.
It doesn’t help that workers often have to carve out more time for things like meal prep if they’re bringing their own lunch to work. Between all of this, there isn’t much free time left.
But if employees are required to travel to work, the least you can do is make the commute to work worth it.
The 2025 Office Space Report by Robin found that commute-related concerns are the biggest reason hybrid workers resist the office. 41% of respondents say the commute is too long.
But how long is too long? Let’s look at the state of commuting in the U.S.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the average commute to work in the U.S. was 27.2 minutes as of 2024. That’s a slight increase from the previous year’s 26.8 minutes, although the number has been gradually rising since companies started bringing employees back to the office.
A reasonable commute to work is around 30 minutes or less each way. But this is also up to personal preferences and location-specific standards.
In cities with heavy traffic like New York, for instance, a slightly longer commute would be considered reasonable. The average commute to work in the city is 44 minutes. And over 17% of workers in the city spend more than an hour commuting.
But in cities like Columbus and Memphis, workers spend an average of around 22 minutes each way. So anything longer than that could be considered unreasonable for the market.
Long commutes mean loss of leisure time and higher transport costs for employees. But employers also feel the indirect impact. Here are some of the reasons why the commute to work also concerns employers:
Whether they get stuck in heavy traffic surrounded by blaring horns or get crammed into crowded trains, employees are already exposed to multiple stressors long before they get to the office. This could leave them mentally and physically exhausted before they even make it to work, leading to a higher risk of employee burnout.
When the daily commute takes up too much time, employees don’t always get to enjoy quality time with family, indulge in their hobbies, or even simply watch their favorite TV show.
When they have less time for meaningful activities outside of work, it leads to poor work-life harmony. Add the cost, mental stress, and physical fatigue from all the travel, and you have employees who are unhappy and prone to quiet cracking.
If employees often have to deal with long and stressful work commutes, there’s a good chance they’ll have less energy to focus on their work. This means they could be less productive and engaged, leading to poor performance.
One study even found that the mental effort involved in the morning commute impaired daily job performance.
More employers are initiating a return to office if they haven’t already.
According to Fooda's "What's Happening in the Workplace Now?" report,41% of workplaces are fully back in-office. That’s a 2x increase from 2024 numbers. Meanwhile, 31% are also following a hybrid model with set in-office days.
As these trends continue, commuting has become the expected norm again, especially with 76% of companies planning to work from the same location.
As a company, while you can’t reduce the commute, you can make it worthwhile. Here’s what you can do:
In-office work models don't necessarily have to be rigid. Instead of sticking to a typical 9-5 schedule, give workers the freedom to come into work and leave at a time that works for them.
This flexibility allows them to avoid peak travel times or run personal errands as needed. They can time their commute to avoid heavy traffic, which will cut down travel time and reduce the commute to some extent.
For example: Let’s say someone lives 20 minutes from the office but spends about 15-20 minutes getting stuck in traffic one way. Their daily commute ranges between 60-80 minutes. But if they have the flexibility to start later (or earlier) in the day, they could skip the heavy traffic and get to work in 25-30 minutes.
That's almost 30 minutes saved per day on commuting time.
Even just not having to rush to the office in the mornings means employees are less worried about making it on time and are ready to focus once they do.
If employees are paying for their own gas or travel fares, it adds to their financial burden. So even a 20-minute commute can seem less worthwhile than a 40-minute commute where an employer handles the costs.
The aforementioned Robin survey found that 32% of hybrid workers cited high gas prices as a reason for resisting the office. Meanwhile, 20% cited expensive parking.
But 39% of workers would be more likely to come in if the company covered commuting costs.
So offering subsidized transport is a straightforward way to reduce one of the biggest barriers to showing up. Companies can offer:
Alternatively, you could also provide other ways to travel. For instance, company shuttle services or bike-to-work initiatives can improve the commuting experience.
The duration and cost of commuting is one thing. Workers also weigh the worth of commuting based on what happens after.
Imagine driving all the way to work knowing lunch is going to be the same cafeteria rotation it's been all month. Suddenly, the drive doesn't feel like it's worth it.
Make sure employees are coming into a space that's welcoming and supportive after their commute. Great food, excellent facilities, and engaging communities can significantly improve the daily workplace experience.
When you combine workplace perks that impact employees daily, it makes the whole commuting experience much more worthwhile.
Even with all the gas stipends and the transit benefits, employees might still not enjoy coming into work.
But the one thing that could instantly make the daily commute worth it? Food.
And here’s the data to prove it:
That says a lot about the impact of food on people’s attitudes toward on-site attendance. And it will have an impact on their attitudes toward commuting.
So building and implementing a thoughtful workplace food program will help you create workplace experiences that make the commute worth it.
Here are some food-related perks that could offset the burden of commuting:
Fooda’s workplace food programs let you design food perks that make your employees’ commute to work more worthwhile. From expansive menus and adaptable models to low-cost, subsidized meals, you can build a program that fits your needs.
Fooda lets you build a program where employees truly look forward to eating at work. You can offer a diverse selection of authentic cuisines from top-rated local restaurants, so lunch feels more satisfying and rewarding.
Additionally, employees aren’t stuck having to choose from the same 10 items day in and day out. You can experiment with new cuisines, bring back their favorites, and have a new restaurant lineup daily.
As employees see the upcoming lineups ahead of time through the Fooda app, the commute to work feels a lot more exciting.
Food benefits give you a competitive advantage and offset the burden of commuting but cost is going to be a make or break factor on the decision for any company.
The Fooda model is uniquely low-cost for employers because it mainly focuses on revenue share with partner restaurants. So it offers an affordable way for employers to set up food programs.
You also have the flexibility to design a custom solution that works specifically for your company. Whether you want to bring in Popup Restaurants, order office lunch delivery, or set up a full service cafeteria, Fooda has solutions that work for businesses of all sizes, budgets, and setups.
And even if you want to offer subsidized meals, you can customize the program to pay for all or some of the food, putting money directly back in your employees’ pockets.
Fooda Pantry lets you take office snacks and drinks to the next level.
From yogurt cups to gourmet chocolate, you can provide healthy snacks that are equally delicious and convenient. You can also stock up on your employees’ favorite brand of potato chips or protein bar using sales data from the Fooda software.
Beverages also get a makeover with smart coffee machines that dispense custom drinks and water dispensers that let employees add flavors and enhancements.
Employees no longer have to resort to basic coffee or sugary sodas when they need a quick pick-me-up.
And when you know there’s a cup of iced vanilla latte with coconut milk waiting for you when you reach the office, the commute to work doesn’t feel as daunting.
Bad commutes lead to higher employee stress and lower job satisfaction. Studies even show that 23% of workers have left a job because of a bad commute. So if you want to keep your employees happy and make them want to stay, you need to make the commute to work feel more worthwhile.
Learn more about retaining employees in our employee retention strategy guide.
Or get in touch with Fooda to set up food perks that make the commute even more worthwhile.
Are commuter benefits tax-deductible for employers?
Yes, for employees. Under IRS Section 132(f), qualified transportation fringe benefits - including transit passes, vanpool, and qualified parking - can be offered pre-tax, meaning employees don't pay federal income tax or FICA on those contributions (up to $340/month in 2026). This makes commuter benefits a meaningful financial perk. Note that employer deductibility changed under the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, so consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
How do I find out what commute-related perks my employees actually want?
Start with a short, anonymous survey asking about commute length, mode of transport, biggest pain points, and which perks would make the biggest difference. This prevents you from investing in benefits that don't move the needle - for example, parking subsidies won't help a workforce that mostly takes public transit.
Should we factor commute distance into hybrid scheduling?
It's worth considering. Some companies let employees who live farther away come in fewer days or choose which days they're on-site so they can batch meetings and collaboration into fewer trips. This approach reduces total weekly commute time without sacrificing in-person connection.
