4 ms·

For many the commute more than hits your daily stress quota, even before work contributes. So you can end up starting your day stressed, be that public transp

by Zenst 8y ago

For many the commute more than hits your daily stress quota, even before work contributes. So you can end up starting your day stressed, be that public transport sardines and delays or playing car upon roads so gridlocked that the terminology car park seems more apt. This to reach an office at some arbitrary time everybody seems to follow of the 8/9am start. Hence you have this sudden rush into cities around that time and again with the bulk leaving home in the early evening. Travel outside those hours or against the commuter grain are such a joy, that the contrast is huge. Whilst many companies offer flexible hours, they are still the exception and until more flexibility becomes more widespread along with home working or local hub/satellite office working. Such stress will play more and more a factor. I'd dare say that having a stressful commute alone can on many levels kill of your entire morning productivity. Then you have the costs, adding more stress. Again costs that would be much cheaper (public transport trains here in the UK) if you travel outside peak hours. But then, roads much more pleasant off peak. But a 4 day week can sure make a difference over a 5 day one. Working longer hours for 4 days, avoiding some of that peak commute stress and focusing on work, for those days and giving yourself 3 days of freedom. It is a fine balance over having 5 days of self imposed stress if your late home and the impact upon a social life. Which means you end up with a less quality social life and/or work life and by this approach you get quality time with both. Though not always suitable for all, it's more palatable for companies who are less flexible. At least what I've found. Though again, depends upon your job.

GordonS 8y ago
> playing car upon roads so gridlocked that the terminology car park seems more apt I spent 5 years making a 1 hour (each way) commute by car, a distance of 8 miles (also each way). It was soul destroying! Wasting 2 hours of my life every workday just felt so meaningless! Eventually I moved out of the city to a small town 10 miles out of the city, and only then did I realise just how awful it had been. I'm now lucky enough to work from home 3 days a week and work 1 day in the office - and it's only a 20-25 minute drive.
- AdrianB1 8y ago
  8 miles is a 30 minute bicycle ride (for me) in the city, and my city is in the top 5 by worst traffic in the world. Except for winter time, I never use a car to go to work, it would take me 1.5-2 hours for 10 miles (in each direction). There are options bicycles and scooters.
  - GordonS 8y ago
    I was in a Scottish city of only 200k people, so not nearly the worst by any stretch, but still bad enough to result in soul-destroying journey times during rush hour :( Unfortunately, cycling isn't an option for everyone.
- dancek 8y ago
  When I read soul destroying I was certain the punchline is that you'd later started cycling, making commutes both enjoyable and beneficial. Alas, I was wrong.
  - TeMPOraL 8y ago
    > you'd later started cycling, making commutes both enjoyable and beneficial Some times of the year (in many places, half or less), and only if you have showers in your office.
    - dancek 8y ago
      YMMV. I live in Finland, and I ride a bike almost every day of the year. Last winter the temperatures went below -20˚C and I still took the bike, and enjoyed it. Granted there are maybe three months a year when it takes dedication. And yes you do need a shower unless you have an electric bike.
- quickthrower2 8y ago
  8 miles in 1 hour? I’d take up running because it’s be quicker at a not too unreasonable pace.
ethagnawl 8y ago
> Working longer hours for 4 days, avoiding some of that peak commute stress ... You're spot on here. The option to travel before/after the rush makes a world of difference. I'm a freelancer/consultant and I've found that when I'm working as a "vendor", as opposed to a "temporary employee" working on-site during normal business hours, and only need to be on-site for meetings and such, I don't mind commuting at all and actually look forward to heading into the city. Novelty aside, I'm sure this is because I'm usually traveling before (heading to a cafe to prepare for an early meeting) or after (late meeting) the rush and can find a seat, have room to breath, etc. However, when I'm stuck doing the 8/9/10-5/6/7 commute, I find the train/subway ride (and myself) miserable.
- m0zg 8y ago
  As a consultant I'd bill my hourly rate for travel to and from the customer's office. This achieves two things: 1. Reduces stress, because all of a sudden your commute is not a total waste of time 2. Makes your client feel better about you working from home
  - ethagnawl 8y ago
    I wish I had the guts to add this sort of stipulation to my (non-existent) standard contract.
    - m0zg 8y ago
      It's usually not even in the contract (most contracts were supplied by customer). Contracts usually have something to the effect that the customer will pay for travel. You can justify this by saying that because your place of business (usually your home or office) isn't nearby, and your work does not require you to be on-site, you will charge for the actual time spent on travel to and from customer site. You have to be firm on this, and be prepared to walk away if they refuse. I haven't once encountered any pushback, though, even though my hourly rate was pretty high. Also, where I couldn't park for free, I'd pass through parking as an expense. Clients are cool with that too. Somehow they don't allow any of this shit for regular employees, for reasons that I don't quite understand. :-)
Tempest1981 8y ago
Why aren't more "knowledge workers" able to work from home 2 or 3 days a week? I know some people have noisy kids/distractions at home, but seems like it would work for many engineers. Yet every company I've been at, I suggest it, and people give me a sarcastic look like, "yeah, right, we can't do that!" Possibly a fear that not being seen at work will hamper advancement?
- sgt101 8y ago
  More commonly it is felt that not being seen at work and plugged in to every decision will make you a target for dismissal.
  - Tempest1981 8y ago
    You could set up a large live display of your github contributions calendar. Or some type of holographic telepresence. Or just be overly-active in email/chat.
    - sgt101 8y ago
      Those things do not matter to the kind of people targeting other people on this irrational basis. What matters is that they have a vague feeling that you are "around" and "a contributor" and "one of us" (feel free to be a bit sick in your mouth at this point).

by Zenst 8y ago

GordonS 8y ago

> playing car upon roads so gridlocked that the terminology car park seems more apt I spent 5 years making a 1 hour (each way) commute by car, a distance of 8 miles (also each way). It was soul destroying! Wasting 2 hours of my life every workday just felt so meaningless! Eventually I moved out of the city to a small town 10 miles out of the city, and only then did I realise just how awful it had been. I'm now lucky enough to work from home 3 days a week and work 1 day in the office - and it's only a 20-25 minute drive.

AdrianB1 8y ago
8 miles is a 30 minute bicycle ride (for me) in the city, and my city is in the top 5 by worst traffic in the world. Except for winter time, I never use a car to go to work, it would take me 1.5-2 hours for 10 miles (in each direction). There are options bicycles and scooters.
- GordonS 8y ago
  I was in a Scottish city of only 200k people, so not nearly the worst by any stretch, but still bad enough to result in soul-destroying journey times during rush hour :( Unfortunately, cycling isn't an option for everyone.
dancek 8y ago
When I read soul destroying I was certain the punchline is that you'd later started cycling, making commutes both enjoyable and beneficial. Alas, I was wrong.
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  > you'd later started cycling, making commutes both enjoyable and beneficial Some times of the year (in many places, half or less), and only if you have showers in your office.
  - dancek 8y ago
    YMMV. I live in Finland, and I ride a bike almost every day of the year. Last winter the temperatures went below -20˚C and I still took the bike, and enjoyed it. Granted there are maybe three months a year when it takes dedication. And yes you do need a shower unless you have an electric bike.
quickthrower2 8y ago
8 miles in 1 hour? I’d take up running because it’s be quicker at a not too unreasonable pace.

ethagnawl 8y ago

> Working longer hours for 4 days, avoiding some of that peak commute stress ... You're spot on here. The option to travel before/after the rush makes a world of difference. I'm a freelancer/consultant and I've found that when I'm working as a "vendor", as opposed to a "temporary employee" working on-site during normal business hours, and only need to be on-site for meetings and such, I don't mind commuting at all and actually look forward to heading into the city. Novelty aside, I'm sure this is because I'm usually traveling before (heading to a cafe to prepare for an early meeting) or after (late meeting) the rush and can find a seat, have room to breath, etc. However, when I'm stuck doing the 8/9/10-5/6/7 commute, I find the train/subway ride (and myself) miserable.

m0zg 8y ago
As a consultant I'd bill my hourly rate for travel to and from the customer's office. This achieves two things: 1. Reduces stress, because all of a sudden your commute is not a total waste of time 2. Makes your client feel better about you working from home
- ethagnawl 8y ago
  I wish I had the guts to add this sort of stipulation to my (non-existent) standard contract.
  - m0zg 8y ago
    It's usually not even in the contract (most contracts were supplied by customer). Contracts usually have something to the effect that the customer will pay for travel. You can justify this by saying that because your place of business (usually your home or office) isn't nearby, and your work does not require you to be on-site, you will charge for the actual time spent on travel to and from customer site. You have to be firm on this, and be prepared to walk away if they refuse. I haven't once encountered any pushback, though, even though my hourly rate was pretty high. Also, where I couldn't park for free, I'd pass through parking as an expense. Clients are cool with that too. Somehow they don't allow any of this shit for regular employees, for reasons that I don't quite understand. :-)

Tempest1981 8y ago

Why aren't more "knowledge workers" able to work from home 2 or 3 days a week? I know some people have noisy kids/distractions at home, but seems like it would work for many engineers. Yet every company I've been at, I suggest it, and people give me a sarcastic look like, "yeah, right, we can't do that!" Possibly a fear that not being seen at work will hamper advancement?

sgt101 8y ago
More commonly it is felt that not being seen at work and plugged in to every decision will make you a target for dismissal.
- Tempest1981 8y ago
  You could set up a large live display of your github contributions calendar. Or some type of holographic telepresence. Or just be overly-active in email/chat.
  - sgt101 8y ago
    Those things do not matter to the kind of people targeting other people on this irrational basis. What matters is that they have a vague feeling that you are "around" and "a contributor" and "one of us" (feel free to be a bit sick in your mouth at this point).