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Bosses and workers still can’t agree on whether the commute is part of the work day, and it’s creating a $578 billion productivity problem (fortune.com)
submitted 3 years ago by to c/workreform@lemmy.world
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[–] 83 points 3 years ago (31 children)

It’s easy:

Are you requesting I as a worker dedicate any part of my time, and/or usage of my personal resources to accomplish something for YOUR business? Yes it’s part of the work day.

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  • [–] 15 points 3 years ago* (7 children)

    This would create an issue where they only hire people in close proximity. This is terrible, for a number of reasons.

    Nepotism gets exponentially worse and is then excused, poor areas will be effected the most because they lack businesses

    I think a better solution is allowing people who have longer commutes to write it off on their taxes. This prevents the issues above

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    Subsidize based on type of transportation used? Public transit is mostly subsidized, and private transportation is the least subsidized. This would make employers seek out poorer people.

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  • [–] 8 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    Private transportation is not the least subsidized. The government spends ridiculous sums of money to maintain infrastructure specifically for cars.

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  • [–] 6 points 3 years ago

    I think they’re saying kind of the opposite, they’re proposing that the employer be assisted in payroll by the government to hire folks, and they get more assistance for people with less commute impact?

    Idk, most of these solutions boil down to UBI with extra steps imo. Once we get much further up the chain than “workers shouldn’t be burdened by commutes” then the obvious answer is to pay people to not need cars and that’s a lot like UBI, and I’d prefer we just do that than make it more complicated

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  • [+] 2 points 3 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)
    [deleted]
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  • [–] 8 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    Also, half the time, I’m literally taking work meetings during my commute because I’m both required to physically be in the office and also start taking meetings before I can even get to work.

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  • [–] 4 points 3 years ago

    When meetings are scheduled while I'm on my way home (I work 07:00 to 15:00 so it happens regularly), I fill my timesheet to show that as work time. I'm happy to argue if I ever get called on it

    I have participated in meetings on the bus, in my car, on my bicycle, and while at the hair dresser, all that was work time

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  • [–] 3 points 3 years ago (6 children)

    This doesn't entirely make sense, since commute is only a part of the routine. You could say, you wouldn't be taking a shower, so the employer has to pay for the water and the time you spend in the shower, etc.

    The employer has no influence on where you live, why would they be paying for it?

    If the company is paying for your skills, sitting in traffic is not one of them. So it's up to you to optimise your commute. (I.e. Bike, train, etc.)

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  • [–] 5 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    ew, who wouldn't be taking a shower if not for work? 🤮

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  • [–] 0 points 3 years ago

    Eh, showering every day is bad for your skin and uses a lot of water. I work from home and definitely don’t shower every day especially if I’m only going to be leaving the house to walk my dog.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago (8 children)

    If i live 3 hours from my workplace my employer should pay me for the six hours to get to and from?

    maybe I'm old school...

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  • [–] 6 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    Very unrealistic example to use.. It would be very unusual for anyone to take a job that's 3 hours away and make a six hour commute daily, while working an 8 to 10 hour work day.... that example is not the norm and would never be the norm for majority. But let's say for arguments sake you example works.... yes the employer should pay you for that extreme commute... absolutely.. but maybe I am more new school which was bound to happen as time wore on in society

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  • [–] 0 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    there are people who took jobs during the pandemic that were not in the neighborhood. this is not as an unreasonable example as it would have been five years ago.

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  • [–] 0 points 3 years ago (1 child)

    That's not what I said.. and that's not what you claimed.. and also.. no one works in their neighborhood, unless they work from home.. most work in theirs, or the neighborhing CITY. Most of us workers (at least 95% of us workers) do not and would not work at a job site for minimal pay, with a 3 hour commute both ways and not be well compensated for that commute or be some type of truck driver who is compensated for that.

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  • [–] 0 points 3 years ago (2 children)

    If you live three hours from your workplace you should work remotely or get another job lol

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  • [–] 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child)

    that's the point of this outrageous example. How about this: Suppose there are two employees: Alice and Bob, who do the same job at the same factory. Alice has a 10 minute commute, Bob commutes 35 minutes. If you're the owner of the factory, how would you compensate them for their commutes?

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  • [–] 0 points 3 years ago

    Either:

    A: compensate them equally and let Bob leave 20 minutes earlier and arrive 20 minutes later

    B: compensate them equally for to traveled, meaning Bob would be compensated for 35 minutes and Alice 10.

    C: pass through the tax deduction that I would get if it were company vehicle (xyz a mile) to the employee directly

    If they’re putting their time and their equipment to show up for my business they should be compensated. Period.

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  • [–] -5 points 3 years ago (3 children)

    No, i am expecting you to be at your place of agreed work that you were well aware of, at a time we agreed as stipulated in your agreement that you were open to reject if it was not suitable for you.

    Its not the employers job to tell you where to live, how to get to work, or what to spend you time doing outside of work hours. Don't like the commute - pick a different job or move, you're an adult who can make these decisions.

    Better yet, start a business where you pay your employees this way.

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  • [–] 15 points 3 years ago

    Don't like the commute - pick a different job or move, you're an adult who can make these decisions.

    Well yeah, that's what's happening. That's what sparked this debate.

    People ARE leaving their jobs for other organizations that allow work from home, getting paid more in some instances too.

    If a competing business can't offer more than what the same work from home jobs are offering for the same position, work from home will win every time. Just like you said, it's business. Supply and demand, in a tidy work offer contract based on what is agreed upon.

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