Reduce the Commute

It’s the time of year when we often take stock and consider our priorities in life. Family time over the festive period brings into focus the important things in life and may prompt thoughts of a job change or a house move to adjust the balance between work and home life.

This time last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published a study which identified how time spent commuting and method of travel affect life satisfaction, a sense that our daily activities are worthwhile, and levels of happiness and anxiety. It won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s squeezed into a packed Liverpool Street train early on a dark January morning that people who take the train to work recorded higher anxiety levels on average than those who travelled in a private vehicle, with those enduring a 30 minute-plus train commute demonstrating higher anxiety levels again.

It was widely reported that the price of an annual “peak time” commuter season ticket from East Anglia to London had an above inflation increase from Jan 2015. Norwich to London rose to £7664. “If you are in the upper tax bracket this ticket will be costing you the best part of £11,000 gross salary,” explains Tina Maguire of Norwich-based accountancy recruitment specialists, Big Sky Additions. “Factor in the cost of coffees, papers and food while you wait impatiently for your delayed train, and you could afford to drop at least this amount for your new accountancy job in Norfolk and still maintain the same level of disposable income. And that is without putting a price on four hours of your day spent travelling which could be better spent with family and friends.”

There are excellent career opportunities for finance and accountancy staff in Norfolk and East Anglia, which candidates can and should explore.

In the ONS study, the authors concluded: “Given the loss of personal wellbeing generally associated with commuting, the results suggest that other factors such as higher income or better housing may not fully compensate the individual commuter for the negative effects associated with travelling to work and that people may be making sub-optimal choices.”

If you would like advice and support to make good choices about your new accountancy job in Norfolk contact Tina Maguire today :-