Commuting weighs as much as a half extra working day on average: Does remote work make up for it?
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For most Europeans, the daily home to work commute is the equivalent of working one extra part-time shift a week or 48 minutes a day.
That's according to new research from talent firm sd worx,* which surveyed 16,000 workers across 15 countries.
Belgium-based workers spend the longest time on the road, averaging 57 minutes a day, followed by Sweden and Netherlands-based employees with 54 minutes and 52 minutes respectively.
Slovenians enjoy the shortest trips, with their daily home-to-work journey taking just 40 minutes.
When it comes to distance, however, Dutch employees top the list: They cover about 40 kilometres per day on average, compared to 37 kilometres for Belgians.
Serbians travel the least, clocking in just 19 kilometers daily.
Are you a 'super commuter'?
The research also highlights which European countries have the highest rates of so-called "super commuters," workers who spend more than 90 minutes a day commuting.
Belgium once again leads the pack with 20% of employees falling into this category. Ireland follows next with 16%, while Sweden and Germany tie at 15% each.
Spain seems to have a more "reasonable" commuting routine. Only 8.3% of employees face journeys of longer than an hour and a half.
Hybrid work offsets long commutes
Hybrid work has become a lifeline for those with gruelling travel times. It's "part of the solution for people who spend more than an hour and a half on the road each day," says sd worx's International Employment Specialist Valérie t'Serstevens.
Many European employers across Europe seem willing to meet their long-distance commuters halfway by offering remote work options, at least for a few days a week.
Overall, about 44% of Europeans work in a hybrid set-up, but among "super-commuters" the figure climbs up to 52% on average.
The picture however varies widely between countries. In Belgium, 39% of super commuters are fully remote, working from home five days a week.
In contrast, none of their counterparts in Italy, the Netherlands, Serbia and Slovenia reportedly have the same arrangement.
Serbia (29%) and Italy (31%) also report some of the lowest rates of hybrid workers among super commuters.
The most common compromise across Europe for super commuters is two remote-work days a week (28.7%), especially in Croatia and Poland (50.8%).
The second most common deal is one day a week (20.5%), followed by three days (19.1%).
Do cars still rule the road?
Yes, cars are still the dominant means of transport among European commuters, with 59% of employees relying on them.
Italy stands out with the highest figure on the continent: 75%.
Public transport - including metro, trains, taxis and company shuttles - is used by around 27% of Europeans, with a peak of 30% in Norway
And, for those living closer to their workplace, walking remains a viable option.
Daily strolls to work are most popular in Serbia (24%) and Romania (16%).
The Netherlands has the lowest rate of walking commuters (5%) but shows the strongest percentage of employees cycling to work (28%).
For trains alone, the highest share of commuters was reported in Belgium (11%), while rates fall close to zero in Serbia (1%), Romania (1%) and Croatia (2%).