{"id":11293,"date":"2019-01-30T23:09:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T06:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nursemk.wpengine.com\/commute-time-how-long-too-long\/"},"modified":"2022-03-02T15:05:03","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T20:05:03","slug":"commute-time-how-long-too-long","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nurse.com\/solutions\/blog\/commute-time-how-long-too-long","title":{"rendered":"Commute Time: How Long Is Too Long?"},"content":{"rendered":"

No one likes spending a long time on the road getting to and from work each day, but many employees must.<\/h2>\n

As a recruiter you probably deal with this issue frequently with applicants, each of whom is unique and handles commute time differently.<\/p>\n

Some may not talk about it at all, while others may just briefly mention it. But to get the job they are interviewing for most will downplay the negatives of long commutes.<\/p>\n

As a result, most facilities have employees with long and exhausting commutes<\/a> that are coloring their job performance, disrupting their work-life balance, decreasing their job satisfaction and more.<\/p>\n

A 2018 Gallup poll <\/a>found the average employee commute is 45 minutes, and “commutes of this length are linked to poorer overall well-being, daily mood and health.\u201d<\/p>\n

The applicant, you and the decision<\/h3>\n

Often you and the applicant are torn on what to say about the commute issue.<\/p>\n

The applicant doesn\u2019t want to take the chance of losing a wonderful job at a great facility, or give up a good salary <\/a>and benefits. He or she just hopes the job and the money will compensate for the long commute time it will entail, so he or she says nothing.<\/p>\n

As the recruiter, you have a vacancy to fill <\/a>and you don\u2019t want to lose a good applicant because of the commute. You don\u2019t want that to be the deal breaker, but you also don\u2019t need to be reluctant to discuss it.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The applicant can decide how long a commute he or she is willing to make. It\u2019s also important to you and there\u2019s no laws regarding discussing it.\u00a0 Commutes can be discussed<\/a> and even factored into the hiring decision.<\/p>\n

Will you and the applicant take the time to look at the variables and weigh them carefully? Or, like the well-known aphorism warns, will you \u201cact in haste and repent at leisure?”<\/p>\n

Experience is the best teacher<\/h3>\n

We all know success and failure because we\u2019ve experienced both. What we\u2019ve learned is invaluable to our colleagues and our applicants, so please take some time to look at the following questions and share your thoughts.<\/p>\n