TWO-THIRDS OF employees have looked into changing their job due to the cost of commuting, a survey has found.

Employment law consultancy firm Peninsula Ireland also found that 73 per cent of employees find their current work commute too expensive.

Over half of workers (55 per cent) have, as a result of this, asked their employer to increase their salary to cover this cost.

The managing director of Peninsula Ireland, Alan Price, said that the figures reflected the reality that some employees are now being “forced to take a job that pays less salary but is closer to home.”

Another side-effect of a long commute can be tardiness, which Price says can soon become a “problem for employers”.

“The cost of fuel seems to be at an all-time high yet wages are static. For many employers they cannot afford to give employees a raise that matches their expectations and covers travel costs,” he added.

There are potential solutions, however.

Employees need to consider whether public transport is less expensive than driving to work and look at what options are available to them. How about sharing a car and spreading the cost, not only is this economical but it’s also environmentally friendly. There may be other options, so it is worth speaking to colleagues, as a group you may be able to save money.

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