The stimulus check isn’t the only thing padding your wallet. Regardless of what your stance is on the commute-less work world we’ve adjusted to due to the pandemic is, it’s worth noting that workers in the US are saving a ton — both in hours and money, according to a new survey.
When Americans left the office a year ago in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, not having to travel to a physical office meant no more early commutes or nights stuck in traffic.
Some workers around the country have relished the non-commute by using the time to relax, create a morning routine, or even grab a few additional hours of sleep. However, others have missed the commute, even going to lengths to create their own pandemic commute — like driving in traffic only to return home — in lieu of their actual commutes.
Money in your pocket
Make A Living Writing recently compiled data from the US Census Bureau to study commuting habits in 152 major cities around the country, finding that the average American has saved over a week — 8.6 days — of time stuck in traffic over the past 12 months, or for the duration of the pandemic.
Commuters in Oakland, CA average over an hour — 67 minutes — normally during a commute to work, but they’ve saved 11.3 days commuting by working from home. Similar trends were seen in other commuting cities like Washington, D.C., where commuters normally spent nearly 69 minutes per day commuting but saved 11.6 days this year by not commuting.
In the New York metro area, commutes in two New Jersey cities — Jersey City and Newark — saved nearly two weeks (more than 12 days) by not commuting over the past year.
The study’s interactive map can show you how much time you’ve saved by not commuting over the past year.
Past research has shown that commuting in California can cost workers thousands each year. In Fremont, Calif., the average commute tallies nearly $13,000 annually, or about $49 each work day. Similarly, San Francisco and Irvine ranked high in commuter expenses.
A recent study by Tehama found that remote workers are estimated to save around $4,000 per year by working from home due to expenses such as coffee, lunches, and professional wardrobe going by the wayside.
With offices likely to stay in hybrid working situations once companies welcome back employees, it should be interesting to see how willing workers will be to rush back into work with their new lives at home.
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