After the pandemic, Finnish professionals got used to remote work, and getting them back to the office hasn’t been easy. Alongside laptops, washing machines have been running during remote work, but bringing washing machines to the office – as someone suggested – is unlikely to entice people back. A commuting benefit, on the other hand, is a small yet impactful gesture that makes returning to the office easier.
There are probably as many opinions about combining remote and office work as there are members in any given workplace. News reports tell us how even Silicon Valley giants, from Google to Dell, have ordered employees to return from hybrid work to 100% office work with very short notice.
Finnish employees value their hard-won benefits, especially the option of hybrid work. On the other hand, business leaders have noted that remote work takes the fun out of managing people.
Forcing employees back doesn’t fit well with Finnish work culture, so threatening them to return to the office is unlikely to succeed. Employers have the right to decide where work is done, but for those who value remote work, a mandatory return to the office can be a dealbreaker – and quitting may seem more appealing than a strict office mandate.
Employees who have grown accustomed to remote work often feel that commuting takes too much time and incurs extra costs.
And they’re not wrong. Going to the office means waking up earlier and dressing more formally than when working remotely. At home, no one notices if you pair a dress shirt with sweatpants or shorts, but in the office, proper work attire is expected.
While employers can’t magically give their employees more time, they can help with the costs.
“A commuting benefit significantly increased my days at the office,” says Tiina from Smartum’s marketing team. She had long hoped that her employer would cover at least part of her travel costs, and at Smartum, this wish finally came true.
Instead of zero or one office day a week, Tiina now goes to the office three or even four times a week — and all voluntarily.
Smartum veteran Niina, who has held various roles in the company, agrees.
“I definitely use my benefits the most for commuting costs,” Niina says. “Smartum’s benefit package is so generous that after purchasing an annual travel pass, there’s still some left for other things.”
A commuting benefit supports overall well-being.
“Plus,” Niina adds, “you can also use the commuting benefit for personal travel.”
When you help your employees with commuting costs, you show that you value their time and care about their well-being. Covering travel costs with benefits frees up salary money for things other than public transport tickets.
Make your employees’ lives easier
Support your employees’ commuting costs with a commuting benefit. If they come to the office just twice a week, even a modest sum can cover many trips.
Employee benefits are a cost-effective way to reward your team. You can deduct the benefits in your company’s taxes and don’t have to pay payroll-related expenses on them. For your employees, these benefits are tax-free within the limits set by the tax authorities.
If you’re unsure what benefits your employees would prefer, you can allocate a lump sum and let each person choose the support that best helps their recovery.
Start now and provide your employees with a commuting benefit today!