Manpower Survey Finds High Fuel Costs Impacting Work/Life Balance
From Summer Travel to Hobbies, Workers Are Cutting Back
MILWAUKEE, July 11 -- Persistently high fuel costs are cutting into U.S. workers' leisure time activities and may also contribute to job turnover, based on a recent survey by Manpower Inc. According to 900 respondents in an online survey conducted in May and June, 76 percent confirmed that rising gasoline prices are impacting their work/life balance.
Reduced spending on entertainment and hobbies was reported by nearly 65 percent of the respondents. Other responses to high fuel costs include:
-- Dining out less, 64 percent -- Reducing summer travel, 55 percent -- Entertaining at home, 42 percent -- Canceling summer travel plans, 29 percent -- Fewer extracurricular activities for children, 29 percent Note: Results exceed 100 percent because participants were allowed to select all choices that apply.
"Workers are really feeling the squeeze of gasoline prices, including their work/life balance," said Melanie Holmes, vice president, corporate affairs - North America for Manpower Inc. "It's encouraging, however, to see that 6 percent of employers are taking steps to help their employees manage higher fuel costs. It's this kind of thinking that helps set employers apart from the rest of the pack."
Holmes noted that, in some cases, high commuting costs are contributing to employee turnover. In the survey, 31 percent of respondents say they are considering finding a job that is closer to home. That finding is similar to a Manpower online survey conducted last fall in which 35 percent of respondents were searching for jobs requiring shorter commutes.
"High fuel costs are a concern, but they don't have to threaten employee retention. While employers can't be expected to fill everybody's gas tank, there are a number of relatively inexpensive things they can do to help workers cope with the cost of commuting," said Holmes.
Among employers that are providing assistance, the top methods reported by survey respondents include:
-- Offering telecommuting, 24 percent
-- Subsidizing mass transit as an employee benefit, 17 percent
-- Organizing carpools or a shared ride program, 21 percent
-- Providing discounted or preferred parking to carpool vehicles and
motorcycles, 10 percent
"In this competitive labor market, being an employer-of-choice means thinking smart and looking for opportunity," Holmes said.
About Manpower Inc.
Manpower Inc. is a world leader in the employment services industry; creating and delivering services that enable its clients to win in the changing world of work. The $16 billion company offers employers a range of services for the entire employment and business cycle including permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment and selection; training; outplacement; outsourcing and consulting. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,400 offices in 72 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 clients per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction across their total workforce, enabling clients to concentrate on their core business activities. Manpower Inc. operates under five brands: Manpower, Manpower Professional, Elan, Jefferson Wells and Right Management. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at http://www.manpower.com/ and http://www.us.manpower.com/ .
Survey Results
1. How are rising gasoline prices -- No change: 34%
affecting your ability to get -- Considering finding a job that
to work? is closer to home: 31%
-- Purchased a more fuel-efficient
vehicle: 6%
-- Sharing a ride with others: 6%
-- Changed jobs for a shorter
commute: 5%
-- Using public transportation
more often: 5%
-- Working from home or alternate
location: 3%
-- Other: 10%
2. Is your employer taking steps -- Yes: 6%
to help you manage rising fuel -- No: 94%
costs?
2A. What steps is your employer -- Offering telecommuting: 24%
taking to help you manage -- Offering/organizing a carpool
rising fuel costs? or ride share program: 21%
(Select all that apply.) -- Providing subsidized mass
transit as a benefit: 17%
-- Providing discounted or
preferred parking to carpools,
motorcycles, etc.: 10%
-- Providing accommodations, such
as bike racks, lockers,
showers, to those who walk or
bike to work: 9%
-- Other: 40%
3. Are rising gasoline prices -- Yes: 76%
affecting your work/life balance? -- No: 4%
4. How are rising gasoline prices -- Reduce entertainment/hobbies:
affecting your work/life balance? 65%
(Select all that apply.) -- Dine out less: 64%
-- Reduce summer travel plans:
55%
-- Entertain at home: 42%
-- Cancel summer travel plans:
30%
-- Fewer extracurricular
activities for my children:
29%
-- Other: 11%
