Accountants on the move

For those of us mere mortals who lack Gary Egan's enthusiasm for the six hour roundtrips up the M4 every day, commuting can be a genuine struggle. According to research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), every successive minute of commuting results in a decrease in feelings of happiness, life satisfaction and self-worth. Lengthy commutes, of between an hour and an hour-and-a-half long, have the most negative effect on personal wellbeing. Despite these negative impacts, the length of the average commute is increasing, with research from the TUC showing that over the past decade the number of commuters travelling for more than three hours has increased by 75% to 800,000.

Accountants don’t get off lightly when it comes to commuting, either. According to Marks Sattin’s 2015 Market Insight, 4% of accountants travel for more than two hours each way when going to work, and a further 14% travel for more than an hour each way. These two groups mean that a significant chunk of the workforce is at a higher risk of mental health issues, which according to the ONS is enhanced by a lengthy commute. 

Given the potential problems that lengthy journeys to work can have on employees, firms need to make sure they stay at the cutting edge of remote and flexible working. Not only will this create a more motivated workforce, but it will also boost staff retention; the 2015 Market Insight also shows that 14% of accountants left their last job in favour of somewhere with an easier commute.