This is a timely topic considering we are in the midst of a blizzard up here in the Twin Cities. I personally have a short commute, but this topic is a big deal for the thousands on the road this morning stuck in stop and go traffic. The 2006 Commuter Impact Survey from the TransitCenter, Inc. looks at commuting issues from both an employer and employee viewpoint. We have touched on this topic in previous posts (Energy Prices And Recruitment, Telecommuting Town?).
There were some interesting findings in this survey that I wanted to pass along form this 18 page white paper. First, 76% of the employers who responded think their employees are either very or extremely concerned with the rising fuel and commuting costs. Second, only 43% of the employers offer flex time and 27% offer telecommuting as a means to offset these rising costs. I am still amazed at how few companies provide their employees with a telecommuting option. Many surveys reveal that companies are concerned with the effect commuting costs will have on their recruiting efforts. Yet, only 20% of the companies surveyed are planning any initiatives to impact these issues.