Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
The stress of fighting traffic twice a day takes a toll on productivity
DAILY commutes in heavy traffic are having a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of employees, and industrial psychologists agree that many are not coping with the stress and anxiety it causes.
“We have found through our research that in the Sandton area alone, an average of 73% of employees spend more than an hour commuting to work and back every day.”
This is according to Natalie Mabaso, an industrial psychologist at Paragon Interiors, who adds: “This is a significant amount of time spent idle in the car. Due to extensive development in the Sandton area and repair of major roadways, this situation is exacerbated.”
She says at a fundamental level, it is the sense of a lack of control experienced by people during their commutes that really affects their psychological well-being.
“One leaves home with more than sufficient time to make it to the office on time, and then finds oneself stuck in traffic due to a robot that is out or a police roadblock.
“It is this feeling of frustration and essentially of being trapped with no way out that can set a per- son’s day off on the wrong foot, and cause a knock-on effect.”
Zelda Pieters, a practising industrial psychologist and managing director of HR Inspiration, says long or congested daily commutes increase people’s anxiety levels.
“People wake up in the morning, but while they can prepare for the journey to a certain extent, a lot of what happens is unexpected.
“By the time people are at work they are stressed and drained and feel they need time to unwind. This is all a direct impact of traffic congestion and commuting.”
An indirect impact, Pieters adds, is that the stress affects both the employer and the worker’s productivity levels.
“Later in the day they are now behind with their work, which causes more stress and increases anxiety levels again. And on top of that, they then need to get back into their cars for another trip home.”
Mabaso adds: “They feel the time they spend travelling is wasted. They may also be late to collect children from school or late for social appointments in the afternoons – which takes its toll on family relationships and friendships.
“It is not the length of the commute that is the issue – although this too can be tiresome – but what one encounters on the journey such as traffic, cars cutting across lanes, robots out and so on.”
Both Pieters and Mabaso agree that women are more prone to this stress due to the responsibilities they have at home before and after the commutes.
“Women often have to pack lunches in the mornings and get children to school, while in the evenings it is getting home, sorting out groceries and making dinner, doing homework, bathing children,” Pieters says.
Mabaso agrees: “I find gender differences in this regard. Men appear more prepared to travel a distance to work – perhaps because, historically, they were often the breadwinners for their families. Moms with children often actively seek out opportunities to work, live and have their children at schools nearby.”
Pieters says people who live and work in the same areas, or very close by, are definitely less stressed, and the indirect effect of this is higher energy levels, better health, and more productivity.
Pieters says employers generally think “very narrowly” about people coming in to work.
“The trade-off should not have to be quitting their jobs to work in the suburbs. For example, people can work from home and go into the office at 10am after the traffic has subsided. They can work until 2pm and go home before the traffic, and then carry on working from there.
“Many people love their jobs but will leave because of the stress of the commute. Employers need to think more openly. There are other options available.”
Pieters says most employees are equipped to work from home, with both data and hardware.
At her company, she implements “very flexible” arrangements and measures her employees’ productivity levels by their outputs.
Mabaso says her company encourages their clients to allow their employees flexitime.
“We find employees are better able to schedule their personal responsibilities and commitments around this and are happier as a result.” –