During the pre-industrial period, individuals frequently resided and labored within the same structure. Consequently, they did not require commuting to their places of employment.
The separation of
home and work
happened considerably afterward, during the
Industrial Revolution
. Factories and offices were organized into specific zones.
residential zoning
was invented.
Despite changes in technology or urban design, people generally dedicated between 60 to 90 minutes daily for travel. This phenomenon is referred to as
Marchetti’s constant
.
The growth of the internet in the 1990s—and more recently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic—has prompted a reassessment of commuting habits. As Australians approach the voting booths,
largest federal election
, working from home has become a
hot-button
issue.
The Labor Party and the Coalition have taken opposing stances on remote work, referencing studies and even
anecdotes
backing their positions.
It wasn’t until this week that things changed. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, shifted his stance from demanding that all public servants must be present at their offices for five days a week under the coalition’s plan to stating that the current work arrangements should continue.
remain unchanged
.
However, apart from political disagreements, what insights do recent studies – including our work with workers in Brisbane – provide?
Effects of telecommuting
Working from home impacts multiple areas including transport, housing, business and health.
A systematic literature review
on working from home – covering international studies between 2000 and 2022 – shows it:
- decreases traffic jams and cuts down commute times. Nonetheless, it puts financial pressure on public transportation providers because of reduced ridership.
- accelerates local economic expansion as employees move seeking bigger residences equipped for remote work. However, this increases the demand for and costs of housing in those areas.
- assists employers in reducing expenses and boosting productivity along with higher levels of job satisfaction. Nonetheless, it might restrict advancement chances for those working remotely.
- Reduces traffic pollution and enhances work-life balance. However, it could lead to social isolation, increased workload, tense family dynamics, and musculoskeletal issues unless proper ergonomics are applied.
These impacts might be temporary, potentially fading away once society adapts. Predicting the long-term consequences is more challenging due to evolving governmental and corporate policies, along with shifting economic climates.
Although working from home diminishes the necessity of daily travel, individuals might use this extra time for outings during less busy hours, such as going shopping or enjoying recreational activities.
When families shift from city centers to outskirts, urban sprawl intensifies, leading to fewer yet lengthier journeys. Consequently, this could result in higher total travel distances, potentially negating ecological advantages. Therefore, Marchetti’s constant might not be valid anymore.
Redistributing commercial zones might generate fresh economic activities. Peripheral neighborhoods and smaller towns could benefit from increased nearby consumer expenditure, whereas regions with less retail presence might increasingly turn to e-commerce. Central Business Districts might see a downturn, requiring innovative repurposing of their office spaces.
Recent findings concerning Brisbane employees
Our upcoming study — set to appear in an imminent publication — will be detailed in a soon-to-be-released book.
Elsevier’s series “Advances in Transport Policy and Planning”
– assesses the short-term costs and benefits of working from home for individuals, the private and the public sectors in Brisbane.
Here, a
big shift
to working from home occurred during the pandemic. We’ve used secondary and proxy data from 2020-2021 when working from home peaked. During that time, Brisbane was in and out of lockdowns.
We have developed an accounting tool designed to itemize both the expenses and advantages associated with remote work. This tool determines the overall effect by deducting all costs from all benefits, thereby enabling us to quantify concrete impacts as well as, where feasible, less tangible ones.
We discovered that individuals and the private sector benefited the most, whereas the public sector experienced the largest setbacks. Workers have received greater advantages from remote work than anticipated, while businesses have reduced expenditures in central business districts and witnessed higher profits in suburban areas.
In Brisbane, the aggregate yearly expense for working from home (encompassing individuals and both the private and public sectors) was AU$557.5 million, whereas the overall advantages totaled $4.1 billion. This indicates that the benefits surpassed the costs by a ratio of seven to one.
This is merely an initial overview, not a detailed analysis. Keep in mind that the cost-benefit ratio might change with advancements in technology, shifts in company ethos, and evolving generational tastes.
Is it advisable for Australia to keep promoting remote work?
Given our observations and presuming other state capitals act similarly to Brisbane, we suggest maintaining remote working options. However, how will this affect public sector jobs?
Although public transportation revenues have decreased because of remote work, this does not appear to be a significant problem for South East Queensland. In this region, fares remain at 50 cents.
introduced
prior to the most recent state election and have subsequently turned into
permanent
.
Nevertheless, the financial resources allocated to public transportation providers in various regions could vary significantly. Therefore, additional forward-thinking strategies may be necessary. These approaches could include transitioning service focus away from peak hours towards consistent throughout-the-day options and modifying pricing structures to better support disadvantaged riders.
Certain organizations may provide demand-driven services such as carpooling. Should all forms of public transportation become economically unviable, local community co-ops might take over these responsibilities.
These transitions in transportation habits could lead to alterations in how land is used. For example, establishments such as eateries and stores in urban cores that depend on regular patrons might relocate to suburban areas or shift their focus towards services like deliveries, pick-ups, or meal preparation kits.
In every situation, not all occupations can be performed from a remote location. Specific industries like manufacturing, healthcare, law enforcement, and hospitality will still necessitate workers being physically present.
Dorina Pojani
,Associate Professor specializing in Urban Planning at The University of Queensland
Neil G Sipe
, Distinguished Professor of Planning, The University of Queensland
Ying Lu
Postdoctoral Researcher at The University of Queensland
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.
Syndigate.info
).
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