Worst EU Country for Office Commuting is Britain
In a recent study by cross-border e-commerce platform Ubuy, Estonia has been crowned the best European country for work commuting, thanks to its affordable transport and supportive work culture [1]. The study evaluated 34 European countries, considering factors such as commute costs, work-life balance, commuting time, and overall happiness related to commuting.
Estonia, with a low score of 64 points, outperforms other countries in the ranking. The Baltic nation offers a healthy work culture, low commuting costs, and reasonable working hours, making it a favourable destination for work commuters.
The UK and Greece share the worst position in the ranking, both experiencing high commuting costs and stressful commutes [1]. The UK ranks poorly due to high commuting costs and a poor work-life balance related to commuting. The UK was also one of the countries with the longest average commute, at 40 minutes.
Other top-ranked countries include:
- Poland (4th place)
- Czech Republic and Serbia (tied 5th)
- Netherlands, Austria, and Slovenia (joint 6th)
- Denmark, Luxembourg, and Latvia (7th)
- Norway and Hungary (8th)
- Belgium (9th)
- Malta, Slovakia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (top 10)[1]
The Czech Republic offers reasonable prices across the board and a strong overall quality of life. Serbia stands out for value, with affordable coffee and lunch and some of the cheapest all-day parking in Europe.
France has an average monthly commute cost of £56, while Italy's average all-day parking rate is £20.91. Cyprus has an average monthly commuting cost of £31.68, making it one of the more affordable countries in the ranking.
The ranking takes into account factors such as monthly commuting costs, parking fees, coffee and lunch prices, average commute times, lunch breaks, working hours, and overall happiness scores.
Countries like Sweden and Romania are in third place, both achieving a score of 74 points. Finland and Lithuania are in joint second place with 68 points. The Netherlands, Austria, and Slovenia are in joint sixth place, each with 79 points [1].
The study underscores the importance of affordable and efficient transport combined with supportive work policies in shaping positive commuting experiences. Working conditions, such as rest, days off, and a decent lunch break, play a significant role in this.
[1] Source: Ubuy's official ranking of 34 European countries for work commuting.
In light of Ubuy's study on work commuting [1], Estonia excels in motor insurance and telematics, offering affordable transport and a healthy work culture, contributing to its status as the best European country for work commuting. Telematics technology could potentially be integrated to monitor driving habits and offer discounts on motor insurance policies to eligible drivers.
Moreover, sports enthusiasts might find encouragement in the wellbeing initiatives taken by top-ranked countries like Estonia, as a supportive work culture, shorter commute times, and flexible working hours can facilitate participation in various sports events, improving overall wellbeing and work-life balance.
