Why Hybrid Work Has Made Commuting More Complicated

Key Takeaways:

• Hybrid employees may commute fewer days each week but changing schedules, busier peak days, and rising costs have introduced new commuting challenges. 
• Midweek office days have created new traffic and transit peaks.
• Rising fuel costs have reduced the financial savings associated with hybrid work.
• Commute friction can affect recruitment, retention, and office attendance.
• Flexible mobility solutions, including carpooling, can help make hybrid work more sustainable.

In the wake of the pandemic, organizations reevaluated how and where work should happen. 

As offices reopened, many employers introduced return-to-office (RTO) mandates to rebuild culture, strengthen teamwork, and encourage innovation.  In some cases, employers, moved to policies requiring that employees be at the worksite full time.  In other cases, employers chose a hybrid model. In some cases, employees who had embraced the flexibility of remote work questioned the need for commuting to their worksites regularly and returning fixed schedules. 

Organizations ultimately took different approaches. Some remained fully remote, while others returned employees to the office full-time based on their business objectives.

Many adopted hybrid arrangements to balance business needs with employees' desire for greater flexibility. In 2023, only 20% of companies had implemented hybrid policies. That number had shot up to 38% in 2024 and to 42% in 2025, according to the workplace survey Flex Index.

Yet while hybrid work reduced the number of days employees traveled to the office, it did not eliminate commuting challenges.

“This is the hybrid paradox: the commute has become less frequent but often more complicated. Instead of five predictable commutes each week, employees now contend with changing schedules, busier peak days, and rising transportation costs,” according to Jeremy Zuker, the CEO of carpooling platform, Scoop. 

While many employees continue to value the flexibility that hybrid work provides, the realities of commuting may be reshaping how they experience it. The arrangement that once promised the best of both worlds may not always feel that way in practice.

So, why has commuting become more complicated?

Four Ways Hybrid Work Made Commuting More Difficult

Hybrid work may have reduced the number of days employees travel to the office but it has also introduced new commuting challenges. Here are four reasons why getting to work has become more complicated in the hybrid era.

1. The End of Predictable Rush Hours

Before hybrid work, commuting followed a fairly predictable routine. Most employees traveled to and from the office on a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule, with morning rush hour typically occurring between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. and evening traffic building between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. 

Instead of commuting every weekday, employees now split their time between home and the office, often following different schedules from one week to the next. As a result, commuting patterns have become less predictable.

Transportation analytics firm INRIX found that midday trips increased by 23%  compared with pre-pandemic levels, reflecting the shift toward more flexible travel schedules. For commuters, this can make it harder to anticipate traffic conditions and establish a reliable routine.

2. Midweek Commutes Have Become More Congested

While employees may be commuting less often, they are increasingly commuting on the same days. 

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Flex Index's 2025 State of Flexible Work report found that 87% of companies offering hybrid work let employees choose their in-office days. But many teams choose to be in the office at the same time to collaborate, attend meetings, and work together in person.

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Across every major workplace survey in 2025 and 2026, office occupancy data has consistently shown higher in-office attendance during the middle of the week, with Tuesday through Thursday seeing significantly more office activity than Mondays and Fridays.

The result is a new kind of rush hour. Rather than being distributed more evenly throughout the week, office attendance has become concentrated on a handful of peak in-office days. Employees may travel to the office less frequently while still experiencing crowded trains, heavier traffic, and longer travel times on peak in-office days.

 3. The Cost of Commuting Is Rising

One of the biggest promises of hybrid work is the big savings on commuting costs.  However, this may not ring true in current times due to rising fuel costs and other expenses. 

In 2019, the average U.S. gasoline price was $2.60 per gallon. By June 2026, the national average had climbed above $4.00 per gallon  amid ongoing volatility in global energy markets. 

Note:  Gas prices are highly volatile and vary significantly by state. For consistency, this comparison uses the U.S. national average at the time of writing (approximately $4.13 per gallon). Drivers in higher-cost states may pay considerably more. For example, California averages around $5.71–$5.84 per gallon, while Washington averages about $5.62 per gallon as of mid-June 2026. 

To illustrate how rising fuel prices affect commuters, consider the following assumptions:

• 40-mile round trip commute
• 25 miles per gallon vehicle efficiency
• Five commute days per week in 2019
• Three commute days per week in a hybrid arrangement in 2026

Under these conditions, the estimated weekly fuel costs would look like this:

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So despite commuting 40% fewer days, the hybrid worker's weekly fuel costs remain nearly identical to those of a full-time office worker before the pandemic. The savings from making fewer trips are largely offset by higher prices at the pump.

The trend becomes even more apparent when viewed over the course of a year. 

Assuming the same commuting patterns continue for  48  weeks, a pre-pandemic employee commuting five days a week in 2019 would have spent an estimated $ $998.40  annually on fuel. Meanwhile, a hybrid worker commuting three days a week in 2026 would still spend approximately $1,030.85 per year. 

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In other words, hybrid employees may commute 104 fewer days each year, yet their annual fuel costs are only about 5% lower than those of their pre-pandemic counterparts. 

 "Employees don't experience commuting costs in isolation. Fuel, parking, tolls, and everyday expenses have all become more expensive. Even if workers are commuting fewer days each week, the financial impact of getting to the office can still feel significant. It's one reason why flexibility continues to be such an important part of the employee experience,” Mr Zuker said. 

4. Public Transit Wasn't Built for Hybrid Demand

Public transit systems were designed around predictability. For decades, transportation agencies could anticipate when and where commuters would travel, allowing them to allocate resources around the traditional Monday-to-Friday rush hour.

Hybrid work has disrupted that model. Instead of steady weekday demand, ridership now fluctuates throughout the week. This uneven demand makes it more difficult for transit agencies to match service levels with actual usage.

At the same time, many transit systems continue to prioritize routes connecting residential areas to major business districts. For employees living in suburban areas or traveling between decentralized work hubs, these networks may offer limited flexibility. Indirect routes, multiple transfers, and longer travel times can make public transportation less practical for hybrid commuters.

As commuting patterns continue to evolve, transit systems face a new challenge: adapting infrastructure built for predictable routines to support a workforce with increasingly variable travel needs.

Why Commute Friction Matters for Employers

Commuting challenges do not just affect employees. They can also shape workforce outcomes in ways that matter to employers. From attracting talent to encouraging office attendance, commute friction has become an increasingly important consideration for organizations operating in a hybrid environment. 

• Recruitment: Candidates increasingly evaluate whether the commute is sustainable.
• Retention: Commute burden can contribute to turnover risk.
• Office Attendance: Employees may be less inclined to attend non-mandatory office days.
• Engagement: Stressful commutes can affect employees' energy, focus, and collaboration.

For a deeper look at how commute stress affects employee wellbeing and the actual costs associated with productivity, absenteeism, engagement, and turnover, read our article: The Hidden Cost of Commuter Stress on Employees (And What It’s Really Costing Your Business)

How Employers Are Adapting to Hybrid Commuting Challenges

Hybrid work has changed the commute, and employers are responding in different ways. Rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, organizations are introducing mobility benefits that help employees get to the office more easily.

Flexible Start Times

Allowing employees to adjust when they begin and end their workday can help them avoid the busiest commuting periods.

Transit Subsidies

Some employers offer transit stipends, reimbursements, or pre-tax commuter benefits to offset the cost of public transportation. For a closer look at practical strategies employers can implement, read our guide on cost-effective commuter benefits for employees. 

Parking Benefits

Parking assistance, reserved spaces, and employer-sponsored parking programs can reduce one of the biggest frustrations associated with driving to work.

Employer-Sponsored Mobility Programs

Organizations are increasingly combining different commuting benefits into a single program, giving employees more choice in how they travel.

Carpooling Initiatives

Modern carpooling programs are designed to accommodate changing schedules, helping employees save money while reducing parking demand and congestion.

Why Carpooling Fits the Hybrid Work Era

Helps Employees Offset Rising Fuel Costs

One of the biggest advantages of carpooling is the potential to reduce out-of-pocket commuting expenses.

Earlier, we estimated that a hybrid employee commuting three days a week could still spend approximately $951.55 annually on fuel, despite traveling to the office 96 fewer days than a pre-pandemic worker.

If two employees with similar commuting routes share those trips and split fuel costs evenly, the savings can be substantial.

Example:

Assumptions:

• 40-mile round-trip commute
• 25 miles per gallon vehicle efficiency
• Three commute days per week
• Gas price of $4.13 per gallon
• Two employees alternating driving responsibilities

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In this example, each employee could save approximately $476per year on fuel alone. Additional savings from reduced parking fees, lower vehicle wear and tear, and fewer toll expenses could increase the overall financial benefit.

As commuting costs continue to rise, carpooling offers employees a practical way to make hybrid work more affordable. And as more employees participate in shared commuting arrangements, the cost per person can decline even further. 

Designed for Variable Schedules

Traditional carpooling often relied on employees working the same hours every day. Modern carpooling programs can adapt to changing office schedules, making them better suited to hybrid work environments where attendance varies from week to week.

Reduces Parking Demand

Fewer vehicles arriving at the workplace can help ease parking shortages and reduce pressure on existing parking infrastructure. For organizations with limited parking capacity, encouraging shared rides may help maximize available spaces.

Strengthens Workplace Connections

Sharing a commute can create informal opportunities for employees to build relationships outside of formal meetings and workplace interactions. For hybrid teams that spend less time together in person, these moments can support a greater sense of connection.

Supports Sustainability Goals

Transportation remains a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. By reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles on the road, carpooling can help organizations advance broader sustainability and environmental objectives.

While carpooling can help employees save money and navigate hybrid schedules more easily, the advantages may also extend to employers. Learn more about how employee carpooling programs can support retention, productivity, sustainability, and cost savings in our guide to the benefits of employee carpooling programs for businesses. 

Final Thoughts

Hybrid work may have reduced the number of days employees travel to the office, but it has not eliminated the challenges associated with getting there. Unpredictable schedules, rising commuting costs, and concentrated peak travel days have reshaped what the daily commute looks like for many workers.

As organizations continue refining their hybrid strategies, the commute deserves consideration as part of the broader employee experience. Solutions such as flexible scheduling, mobility benefits, and modern carpooling programs can help reduce commute friction and make office attendance more sustainable.

Platforms like Scoop represent one approach organizations can use to adapt to these changing realities. By helping employees coordinate shared rides around variable schedules, employers may be able to ease some of the financial and logistical burdens associated with commuting while supporting their broader workplace goals.

The future of work may be hybrid, but making the journey to work easier remains an important part of making hybrid work successful.

FAQ Section 

Is hybrid work making commuting harder?

Yes. While employees commute less frequently, hybrid schedules often create unpredictable travel patterns, concentrated peak days, and increased planning complexity.

How do gas prices affect employees returning to the office?

Higher fuel costs increase the financial burden of commuting, making employees more sensitive to return-to-office mandates and transportation expenses.

What are the biggest hybrid commuting challenges?

Common challenges include rising commuting costs, parking availability, unpredictable office schedules, and limited transportation flexibility.

How can employers improve the commuting experience?

Organizations can offer mobility benefits such as flexible schedules, transit support, parking assistance, and carpooling programs.

Why is carpooling effective for hybrid teams?

Modern carpooling programs adapt to changing schedules while helping employees save money, reduce stress, and improve the overall commuting experience.

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