Is this a 'normal' commute for most people?

[Celia24]

Im struggling with current commute and can't tell if it's mainly because I got so used to work from home and need perspective!

I joined a company during lockdown and worked from home for over a year. When I joined they said I might need to come in twice a week later on (not as much as other people as I live further away as do two other colleagues). They have only just made office working mandatory a year and a half in, initially trying for more days, but there was a bit of an uproar.

So now I'm travelling in twice a week 1 hour 50-2 hours door to door and I'm already struggling. Am I being ridiculous? In my old job it was 25 mins but I loathed the job!

That’s a long commute, although using public transport, rather than driving, does make it more relaxing. I’d be listening to an audio book or reading on the train.

If you can find something similar more local though, I’d go for it. I’m Good luck!

Think you’ve answered your question , time you researched new positions with less commute or greater pay

i did a long commute for a while (and hated it). I'd taken a contract & had local accommodation sorted (I was young & single) but it fell through after a short while (SIL didn't like that my brother & I got on well, when she doesn't with her siblings). I stayed with a cousin whose DH had just walked out on her & the kids & she wanted the help with the kids & the company. Trouble is that changed a 10 min car trip with my brother into a long commute

Bus (10-15 mins, train 1.5 hours, bus, bus, walk.

home bus bus walk train walk or taxi

slightly different routes as one way systems etc but roughly 2 hours each way.

it was a decently paid contract, but I didn't renew after the initial period because I could face the commute any more (it was 5 days pw though)

if I were you I'd look locally & see what you can get. Then either just take it or tell your current place they need to make it worth you while staying (money & time & flexibilty - no point in commuting to do zoom calls!)

no need to stay for 2 years if you get a better offer!!

That’s not too dissimilar to my commute I used to do 5 days a week (train was 1 hour though). Used the train ride as an opportunity to watch Netflix and play RPGs on a Nintendo Switch. Quite pleasurable.

Before Covid my commute was over 2hrs each way, 5 days a week. I was wiped out as it was a difficult and stressful journey. I've had 2 kids since Covid and moved house to halve my commute. I'm still dreading going back after maternity leave.

I'd continue doing it if it was only 2 days a week. If it's really affecting you, start looking for something else as it will only get worse over time.

My DP has never travelled for more than 30mins each way for a job (by car).

Mine is roughly an hour and a half each way, so three hours a day. I think under an hour is a short commute, and an hour is average. As you're only doing it twice a week, and you enjoy your job, that must make it easier, surely?

I live AND work in London, and it still takes a long time 😂

That is a long commute, I wouldn't want to do more than an hour. My current role is 20 min, but we had to temporarily live with in-laws (emergency situation) for 6 weeks and my commute was a four hour round trip. It was awful, no way coul d I have done it long term. Plus the cost in petrol was ridiculous.

That is insane! My commute is a 15 minute walk which I realise is very short but I don't know anyone who commutes more than 45 minutes tops and no one who drives to work (most people cycle or use public transport). If it's "only" twice a week it's not too bad but it's still a big waste of your life.

It sounds similar to my commute which is 12 min walk to station, 1hr train (unless there are delays which there often are, which makes the journey longer) and 20min walk to office.

Can you work on the train? If so you could aim to get in later / come home earlier?

Hour and 15 each way for me but in comfort on a ferry... theres a bar on there for the way home... and I always see pals on the ferry so it's like a daily social event.

Lots of employers and employees assumed that WFH as standard was the new normal but now realised its downsides Unless it's written into your contract you just have to get on with it so not much ability to challenge

I'm on 45k and definitely don't think the cost of that commute would make it worth my while. Start looking for a new job. No rush but always look. And aim up.

I used to do a 2 Hr driving commute when I was in my early 20s. Moved to a 1 Hr commute in my current role about 10 years ago and it was starting to drain me just before Covid hit, a mixture of age, not having to prove myself in work quite as much, childcare, walking the dog/exercise etc

After Covid - I literally can't stand it. What's the point in wasting 2 hours of my life in the car each day?! Especially if you're sitting on virtual calls in the office all day long. Luckily, we only have to go in twice a week now, so it's manageable. Any more than that and I'd be looking for a job closer to home or fully WFH

Also - most of our upper management live a 5-10 min walk or drive from our office, and they are in the office most days. They would much prefer us all in 5 days a week, just from a social side of things....

A daily commute of an hour one way or an hour and 29 if issues is doable. Two hours is not plus it must be expensive. Can you do the two days a week on consecutive days and stay overnight with a friend or colleague. I offered a friend my spare room in these very circumstances.

It is exactly the same length of commute I do and I hate it (although mine is 6am-6pm).

Office relocation during lockdown.
At first we only had to go in one day a week which was fine. Increased to two and it was manageable. Now they are increasing it to three so I am leaving to take early retirement.

Well, as mine is a 12 minute walk and I've never been further than a 30 minute drive away I wouldn't even consider a job with commute time like that.

I did that commute for a number of years as my job was relocated. It meant having two days with the commute but the rest working from home and I found it hard going back okay. I got the first train in the morning, leaving home at 6am arriving in the office before 8 and leaving at 3pm so I could pick up kids at 5pm.

It was well paid though, just exhausting for those two days. I am now doing it once a fortnight. There was a plan to do it once a week but I fought back on this along with another colleague as our work is very much online and time in the office is not particularly productive, though I do enjoy face to face meetings and getting out of the house at times.

That's a really long commute. Anything above an hour is rank in my opinion

On the long side but the same as mine - I commute into london once or twice a week and it makes it a 12 hour day. However in recent months I made a shift to getting a longer slow train... sounds bizarre but I get on and get a table easily and I can work for 1hr 50m then the station is right by my office. Before I was on a quicker train but had to then trek across london. I leave work slightly earlier than I used to, and work on the same train back. I find it ok once or twice a week to be honest, and often appreciate the time to myself without my kids I usually work 9hr days (compressed hours) to get a day off in the week so I find this just means i build up my hours easily.

That's my commute - from Kent into z London. I cycle to the station, then a good hour on the train, then another 15 min walk. Once a week is fine, twice at a stretch. We have young children, so being one parent down just makes life a little harder on the remaining parent.

Too long. I wouldn't do it

Do you drive and have a car? Could It be cut down by not relying on public transport?

My limit has always been 60 minutes door to door. I WFH now and I'd quit before going back into the office.

This sounds silly but can you walk to the station in the morning instead of taking the bus .

I used to drive to the station but now have 25 min walk 30 min train 15 min walk usually 5 days a week .

Walking did mental health so much good, I walk past traffic jams in the morning sometimes

Don't feel guilty, your situation has changed due to lockdown. Find an alternative you are happy with. Then talk to your boss to say you can't do the commute anymore and think you need to find a new job. Would that consider letting you work from home? If they say no resign.

Best to have the new job lined up as then you can leave straight away. If you threaten but aren't willing to leave then you loose credibility and it might affect your bonus because they still assume your are looking. I'd also not show your hand initially. If it comes across as a threat or blackmail then there is less likely to be an effective negotiation.

I'm in the same position. I took the job because it was over double my salary. My commute is 2.5-3 hours each way 2 days a week. It's not sustainable long term but being 2 days a week helps. I negotiated working on the train, so on the days in the office I work 10-4 and use the train journey to make up hours. I also have done things like getting the weekly shop done on my phone or made it my down time. These things help me make the time productive

This . If there's no flexibility to wfh all week I'd look for a closer to
home job . That's 8hrs a week just travelling