Draper's HealthEquity releases report on commuting & its effects on RTO

Draper-based employee benefits company HealthEquity has released new research focused on the challenges and preferences of employees who recently transitioned from fully remote work to a consistent in-office schedule. The findings highlight how factors like commuting can impact employees’ return to office (RTO) experience and underscore the importance of commuter benefits in supporting a positive RTO experience.

“Commuting can be the biggest hurdle in any return-to-office or existing work-from-office experience,” said Kalpi Desai, HealthEquity commuter product general manager. “Offering commuter benefits, from pre-tax options to parking discounts, can make a big difference in making individuals’ workdays more manageable and cost-efficient.”

The 2025 HealthEquity “RTO and Commuter Insights” study revealed that 54 percent of employees identified commuting costs — more than any other factor — as an obstacle to more frequent office attendance. impacting their overall RTO experience.

Other key findings from the research include:

• Most employees said their RTO was positive. Seventy-five percent of employees surveyed reported positive RTO experience.
• RTO improved quality of work. Eighty-three percent reported that their quality of work improved after they returned to the office.
• There’s a correlation between higher commuting costs and lower in-office attendance. Employees who reported higher commuting costs also tend to have lower in-office attendance, suggesting a correlation between commuting expenses and reduced office presence.
• Cost concerns impact well-being. Those most affected by commuting expenses report lower sleep quality and a more negative perception of RTO.

With more companies mandating more in-office time from 2023, (the average across size and industry being approximately three days a week), it’s important to get the details right, the HealthEquity authors said. This is particularly evident as RTO policies have made it more challenging to fill positions and have contributed to higher employee turnover. These realities, combined with the fact that the cost of transportation in the U.S. remains one of the highest consumer costs, make workforce commutes one of the most important considerations in a successful RTO strategy.

Despite these challenges, the research highlights an opportunity for employers to address these concerns through commuter benefits and ongoing benefits education. While HealthEquity found that 65 percent of employees say they are aware of their tax-free commuter benefit options, only 47 percent currently report using them, even though more than half believed these benefits make commuting more affordable and convenient.

“While benefit types and options vary, what these employees are telling us is they want benefits that ease the financial strain of RTO. Commuter benefits are smart, strategic choices for companies that are shifting to more time in the office,” said Desai. “This is true not only in cities with mass transit, but also in the more numerous areas where driving to work is more common.”

HealthEquity and its subsidiaries administer health savings accounts and various other consumer-directed benefits for over 16 million accounts, working in partnership with employers, benefits advisors, and health and retirement plan providers.