Bad commutes have driven more than 20 percent of office workers to quit a job, survey shows

Menlo Park, CA — Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. office workers say they’ve quit a job because their commute was too much, according to the results of a recent survey conducted by global staffing firm Robert Half.

In a survey of more than 2,800 office workers from 28 cities, 23 percent cited a bad commute as a reason for quitting a job. The cities with the most workers resigning for commute-related reasons were Chicago, Miami, New York and San Francisco.

“Commutes can have a major impact on morale and, ultimately, an employee’s decision to stay with or leave a job,” Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half, said in a Sept. 24 press release. “In today’s candidate-driven market, skilled workers can have multiple offers on the table. Professionals may not need to put up with a lengthy or stressful trip to the office if there are better options available.”

Almost 40 percent of workers surveyed said their commutes have gotten better in the past five years, while 22 percent said their commutes are worse. The top cities where commutes have worsened are Austin, TX; Denver; San Francisco; and Seattle.

Respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 (34 percent) most often have left a job because of an unpleasant commute. Only 12 percent of workers 55 and older have quit for that reason.

Additionally, 60 percent said their employers have not taken steps to reduce travel burdens on workers.

“To help ease commuting woes, companies can offer remote work options, flexible scheduling or transportation amenities,” McDonald said in the release.