The Path Forward: How Commuting Impacts the Return to Office Experience
HealthEquity (HQY) released new research on employee transitions from remote work to office-based schedules, highlighting commuting challenges and benefits solutions. The 2025 RTO and Commuter Insights study revealed that 54% of employees identified commuting costs as the primary obstacle to office attendance.
Key findings show that 75% of employees reported positive RTO experiences, and 83% noted improved work quality after returning to office. While 65% of employees are aware of tax-free commuter benefits, only 47% currently use them. The study found a correlation between higher commuting costs and lower office attendance, with cost concerns affecting employee wellbeing and sleep quality.
With companies averaging approximately 3 days per week of mandatory office time, HealthEquity emphasizes that commuter benefits can help organizations develop flexible RTO policies aligned with workforce needs, potentially improving employee wellbeing and productivity.
HealthEquity (HQY) ha pubblicato una nuova ricerca sulle transizioni dei dipendenti dal lavoro remoto agli orari in ufficio, evidenziando le sfide legate ai pendolari e le soluzioni per i benefici. Lo studio '2025 RTO e Commuter Insights' ha rivelato che il 54% dei dipendenti ha identificato i costi di pendolarismo come il principale ostacolo alla presenza in ufficio.
I risultati chiave mostrano che il 75% dei dipendenti ha riportato esperienze positive di RTO e che l'83% ha notato un miglioramento nella qualità del lavoro dopo il ritorno in ufficio. Anche se il 65% dei dipendenti è a conoscenza dei benefici fiscali per i pendolari, solo il 47% li utilizza attualmente. Lo studio ha trovato una correlazione tra costi di pendolarismo più elevati e minore presenza in ufficio, con le preoccupazioni relative ai costi che influenzano il benessere dei dipendenti e la qualità del sonno.
Con le aziende che mediamente richiedono circa 3 giorni alla settimana di presenza in ufficio, HealthEquity sottolinea che i benefici per i pendolari possono aiutare le organizzazioni a sviluppare politiche RTO flessibili in linea con le esigenze della forza lavoro, migliorando potenzialmente il benessere e la produttività dei dipendenti.
HealthEquity (HQY) publicó una nueva investigación sobre las transiciones de los empleados del trabajo remoto a horarios en oficina, destacando los desafíos del transporte y las soluciones de beneficios. El estudio '2025 RTO y Commuter Insights' reveló que el 54% de los empleados identificó los costos de transporte como el principal obstáculo para asistir a la oficina.
Los hallazgos clave muestran que el 75% de los empleados reportó experiencias positivas de RTO, y que el 83% notó una mejora en la calidad del trabajo después de regresar a la oficina. Aunque el 65% de los empleados está al tanto de los beneficios fiscales para los transportes, solo el 47% los utiliza actualmente. El estudio encontró una correlación entre costos de transporte más altos y menor asistencia a la oficina, con las preocupaciones sobre costos afectando el bienestar de los empleados y la calidad del sueño.
Con las empresas promediando aproximadamente 3 días a la semana de tiempo de oficina obligatorio, HealthEquity enfatiza que los beneficios para los transportes pueden ayudar a las organizaciones a desarrollar políticas RTO flexibles alineadas con las necesidades de la fuerza laboral, mejorando potencialmente el bienestar y la productividad de los empleados.
HealthEquity (HQY)는 원격 근무에서 사무실 기반 일정으로의 직원 전환에 대한 새로운 연구를 발표하며 통근의 어려움과 혜택 솔루션을 강조했습니다. 2025 RTO 및 통근자 인사이트 연구에 따르면 54%의 직원이 사무실 출근의 주요 장애물로 통근 비용을 지목했습니다.
주요 발견 사항은 75%의 직원이 긍정적인 RTO 경험을 보고했으며, 83%는 사무실 복귀 후 업무 품질이 향상되었다고 언급했습니다. 65%의 직원이 비과세 통근 혜택을 알고 있지만, 현재 47%만이 이를 사용하고 있습니다. 이 연구는 높은 통근 비용과 낮은 사무실 출석 간의 상관관계를 발견했으며, 비용 문제는 직원의 웰빙과 수면 품질에 영향을 미친다고 밝혔습니다.
기업들이 평균적으로 주 3일의 필수 사무실 출근을 요구하는 가운데, HealthEquity는 통근 혜택이 조직이 직원의 필요에 맞춘 유연한 RTO 정책을 개발하는 데 도움을 줄 수 있으며, 이는 직원의 웰빙과 생산성을 향상시킬 수 있다고 강조합니다.
HealthEquity (HQY) a publié une nouvelle recherche sur les transitions des employés du travail à distance vers des horaires de bureau, mettant en lumière les défis du transport et les solutions de bénéfices. L'étude '2025 RTO et Commuter Insights' a révélé que 54% des employés ont identifié les coûts de transport comme le principal obstacle à la présence au bureau.
Les résultats clés montrent que 75% des employés ont rapporté des expériences positives de RTO, et que 83% ont noté une amélioration de la qualité du travail après leur retour au bureau. Bien que 65% des employés soient au courant des avantages fiscaux pour les pendulaires, seulement 47% les utilisent actuellement. L'étude a trouvé une corrélation entre des coûts de transport plus élevés et une présence au bureau plus faible, les préoccupations liées aux coûts affectant le bien-être des employés et la qualité du sommeil.
Avec des entreprises exigeant en moyenne environ 3 jours par semaine de temps de bureau obligatoire, HealthEquity souligne que les avantages pour les pendulaires peuvent aider les organisations à développer des politiques RTO flexibles alignées sur les besoins de la main-d'œuvre, ce qui pourrait potentiellement améliorer le bien-être et la productivité des employés.
HealthEquity (HQY) hat eine neue Forschung zu den Übergängen von Mitarbeitern von der Fernarbeit zu Bürozeiten veröffentlicht, in der die Herausforderungen des Pendelns und Lösungen für Vorteile hervorgehoben werden. Die Studie '2025 RTO und Pendler-Insights' ergab, dass 54% der Mitarbeiter die Pendelkosten als das Hauptproblem für die Büroanwesenheit identifizierten.
Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse zeigen, dass 75% der Mitarbeiter positive RTO-Erfahrungen berichteten und 83% eine Verbesserung der Arbeitsqualität nach der Rückkehr ins Büro feststellten. Während 65% der Mitarbeiter über steuerfreie Pendelvorteile informiert sind, nutzen nur 47% diese derzeit. Die Studie fand eine Korrelation zwischen höheren Pendelkosten und niedrigerer Büroanwesenheit, wobei Kostenbedenken das Wohlbefinden der Mitarbeiter und die Schlafqualität beeinträchtigen.
Da Unternehmen im Durchschnitt etwa 3 Tage pro Woche verpflichtende Bürozeiten haben, betont HealthEquity, dass Pendelvorteile den Organisationen helfen können, flexible RTO-Richtlinien zu entwickeln, die auf die Bedürfnisse der Belegschaft abgestimmt sind, was potenziell das Wohlbefinden und die Produktivität der Mitarbeiter verbessern kann.
- 75% of employees reported positive RTO experience
- 83% reported improved work quality after office return
- 65% of employees are aware of tax-free commuter benefits
- 54% cite commuting costs as main obstacle to office attendance
- Only 47% utilize available commuter benefits
- Higher commuting costs correlate with lower office attendance
- RTO policies linked to increased employee turnover
Insights
This research positions HealthEquity strategically in the evolving benefits administration landscape, particularly as RTO mandates become more prevalent across industries. The study's findings reveal a significant market opportunity in the commuter benefits space, with a 53% gap between benefit awareness (65%) and utilization (47%) - representing substantial untapped revenue potential for HQY's commuter benefit solutions.
The research timing is particularly strategic as companies grapple with RTO mandates averaging 3 days per week. This presents two key revenue opportunities for HealthEquity:
- Immediate expansion of existing client relationships by increasing commuter benefit adoption among current customers
- New client acquisition by positioning commuter benefits as a critical RTO success factor
The correlation between commuting costs and office attendance has broader implications for HQY's business model. As companies face challenges with employee retention and recruitment due to RTO policies, the demand for comprehensive benefits solutions is likely to increase. This aligns perfectly with HealthEquity's integrated platform approach, potentially driving higher revenue per customer through cross-selling opportunities.
The research's emphasis on tax-free benefits is particularly noteworthy from a business perspective. These pre-tax arrangements typically generate recurring administration fees for benefit providers like HQY, while simultaneously delivering cost savings for both employers and employees - creating a compelling value proposition that could accelerate market penetration.
The upcoming webinar represents a strategic lead generation opportunity, positioning HealthEquity as a thought leader in the RTO transition space while potentially expanding their sales pipeline. This combination of market research and educational outreach demonstrates a sophisticated approach to market development that could drive sustained growth in their benefits administration business.
Commuting expenses are on employees’ minds, and with more employees returning to the office, commuter benefits can ease the transition
DRAPER, Utah, Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HealthEquity, a leader in benefits solutions, today released new research focused on the challenges and preferences of employees who recently transitioned from fully remote work to a consistent in-office schedule. The findings highlight how factors like commuting can impact employees' return to office (RTO) experience and underscore the importance of commuter benefits in supporting a positive RTO experience.
“Commuting can be the biggest hurdle in any return-to-office or existing work-from-office experience," said HealthEquity Commuter Product General Manager, Kalpi Desai. "Offering commuter benefits, from pre-tax options to parking discounts, can make a big difference in making individuals’ workdays more manageable and cost-efficient."
The 2025 HealthEquity RTO and Commuter Insights study revealed that
- Most employees said their RTO was positive –
75% of employees surveyed reported positive RTO experience. - RTO improved quality of work –
83% reported that their quality of work improved after they returned to the office. - Correlation between higher commuting costs and lower in-office attendance – Employees who reported higher commuting costs also tend to have lower in-office attendance, suggesting a correlation between commuting expenses and reduced office presence.
- Cost concerns impact wellbeing – Those most affected by commuting expenses report lower sleep quality and a more negative perception of RTO.
With more companies mandating more in-office time from 2023, (the average across size and industry being approximately 3 days a week), it’s important to get the details right. This is particularly evident as RTO policies have made it more challenging to fill positions and have contributed to higher employee turnover.2 These realities combined with the fact that the cost of transportation in the US remains one of the highest consumer costs3, make workforce commutes one of the most important considerations in a successful RTO strategy.
Despite these challenges, the research highlights an opportunity for employers to address these concerns through commuter benefits and ongoing benefits education. While HealthEquity found that
“While benefit types and options vary, what these employees are telling us is they want benefits that ease the financial strain of RTO. Commuter benefits are smart, strategic choices for companies that are shifting to more time in the office,” said Desai. “This is true not only in cities with mass transit, but also in the more numerous areas where driving to work is more common.”
HealthEquity commuter benefits support organizations as they develop flexible RTO policies that align with workforce needs. By addressing commuting challenges, employers can improve employee wellbeing, promote better work-life balance, and foster a more engaged and productive workforce. Employers wanting to learn more about the latest RTO research and RTO employee-centered strategies can register to attend the HealthEquity webinar, “Employee-Centered RTO Strategies that Really Work,” on Thursday, February 27.
2 https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5031481
3 https://www.bts.gov/sites/bts.dot.gov/files/2024-12/TSAR-2024_Web_123024-1644.pdf
About HealthEquity
HealthEquity and its subsidiaries administer HSAs and various other consumer-directed benefits for over 16 million accounts, working in close partnership with employers, benefits advisors, and health and retirement plan providers. With a commitment to saving and improving lives, HealthEquity empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare journey through cutting-edge solutions, innovation, and a relentless focus on well-being. Learn more about HealthEquity’s “Purple service” and our approach to consumer-driven benefits at www.healthequity.com.
Media Contact
Amy Cerny
801-508-3237
acerny@healthequity.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cf76b502-7866-4849-9643-7d12f7d48bb2
FAQ
What percentage of employees reported positive RTO experience in HealthEquity's 2025 study?
How many employees currently use HQY's tax-free commuter benefits?
What is the main obstacle to office attendance according to HQY's 2025 study?
How many days per week are companies requiring office attendance in 2025?
What percentage of employees reported improved work quality after returning to office?
