When does commuting become part of our working day, and should we be paid for working on our journey to work?

To commute or not to commute? That’s not the question. What we really want to know is whether or not we should be paid for our commute. 

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson encouraged people to “get back to work in the normal way,” explaining that it would be advantageous for young people to return to the office, or face being “gossiped about.”

The PM’s emphasis on returning to the office was met with criticism for implying that working from home can damage career prospects. It also prompted a debate about whether or not the public is willing to start commuting again. After all, many people have managed to save significant sums of money by working from home – and that’s before you even consider the numerous health benefits, such as having more time to sleep and rest. 

Research by Totaljobs found that 67% of Londoners were directly able to increase their personal savings due to the reduction in daily transport costs, and that 27% have been able to pay back debts and mortgages using commuter savings. Totaljobs also predicted that the average Londoner could save £14,309 in commuting costs over the course of their career should 2020 working trends continue. 

As well as the financial impact, the commute can be a drain on our energy levels, causing us to lack focus at work. 

Victoria Ann, the CEO of Unhidden Clothing, explained, “As a disabled woman, the commute was often the part of the problem I had with physically being there. Now that remote working is more acceptable my energy levels are much better. She continued,  “I think commute time should [be paid] because it can be hours out of a day that impacts our free time as much as our energy.”

The alternative position is that it’s up to employees to decide where they want to live in relation to their office. As Rachael Mole, Founder of SIC explains, “I don’t agree that commuting should be included in the working day at all – where someone chooses to live and how long they choose to commute into work is their own choice. 

However, she adds, ”I do strongly think that flexible hours should be a standard, so if someone does have a longer commute, often made worse with the rush hour, they can start earlier or later to avoid or reduce their commute time.” 

As we all start spending more time at the office, here’s everything you need to know about the current legal position on whether or not commutes should be paid: 

According to Tracey Guest, Partner & Head of Employment at Slater Heelis, “There is no general right to be paid for commuting unless this is specifically provided for in a contract. 

“An employer’s general obligation is to pay staff for any period during which they are working, carrying out their duties and are at the employer’s disposal. This obligation would also cover any additional period which the employer and worker agree to be working time.”