Employers are being urged to offer staff flexible working options as new research reveals UK workers endure one of the longest average commute times in Europe.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) said journey times to work have rocketed over the past decade, and Londoners are the worst affected.
More than a million workers in the capital have more than an hour’s commute. Nationally, the number of commuters spending an hour or more travelling to work has risen by 22.5% since 1996.
The TUC is now calling on employers to introduce flexible working options such as home-working and flexible or condensed hours.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said:
“We work some of the longest hours in Europe, and on top of this have to endure the second longest daily commute in Europe - on average 54 minutes per day.
“This adds up to a very stressful working week for millions of workers across the UK, and employers could ease this strain for their workers by introducing flexible working.
“Workers who enjoy the benefits of flexible working and can travel to and from work outside of peak rush hour times are likely to feel less hassled and anxious about work - something which can only be good news for their employers.”
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