Quartz on Should commute time be counted as part of the worklday

The article is by Sarah Todd at Quartz.

I have been privileged enough to be able to work from since the Covid Pandemic hit, though my wife has started having to go in 2 days a week. And I have realized I really don’t want to return to the office at all if it can be helped. At home I have my editing computer setup just how I want it with the plug-ins and scripts I want and the keyboard and mouse as well, and I am able to see my wife during the day as well as my dogs, but the thing I really, really don’t miss is the commute.

Honestly in Los Angeles the minimum commute if you are very lucky is 30 minutes each way, and most are between 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes each way. And yes that eats up so much time in the day.

Already I walk my dogs for about an hour and a half each morning (unless it rains which is not that often) so I get up at 5:45 to start work at 9 AM. To have to drive too, means I would need to be getting up at 4:45 AM. I used to be able to go that, but I am getting older, and 5:40 is already early.

And to be able to start dinner and eat pretty much when work is done is also amazing, it gives you an evening.

And this is without kids.

Now an inexperienced editor would need more supervision, and I can see them in an edit bay with more supervision, but after 20 years, I don’t need more daily oversight.

And with all the talk that 4 day work weeks without longer hours, actually increase productivity, so does working from home, and having commute time be part of your day for days you go in really would be amazing. It would mean that employers had to think about the commute, but it would also mean that they would hire closer employees, so there would have to be laws enacted, giving commute times based on where you are. Some places could easily do 30 minutes, but Los Angles would have to give at least an hour every day. I am assuming employers would make apps that track your drive as well, so they don’t get cheated our of a few minutes, but all that might let more people work from home.