Kariyer.net x Volt Lines: The Commute Is a Retention Metric
In April, Kariyer.net and Volt Lines surveyed 1,914 professionals about their daily travel to work, publishing the results as the Journey Report. The takeaways show that daily travel isn't just an administrative detail — it actively influences employee engagement, workplace performance, and staff turnover. Most strikingly, around 75% of respondents admitted considering a job change or relocating solely due to the duration of their commute.
Exhausted before stepping into the office
Nearly one-quarter of workers feel drained prior to starting their shift, stemming entirely from the journey itself — a strain that directly impacts daily productivity. Duration isn't the sole culprit: while 54% maintain a stable travel time, the 20% experiencing inconsistent trips report this variability as the most frustrating aspect. Put simply, the daily travel experience is no longer just personal; it's a key factor driving workforce mobility.
A cost measured beyond mere minutes
Financial expenses also accumulate rapidly. Many participants noted that commuting costs directly affect their lifestyle, with roughly one-third spending as much on transit as on groceries. This reality impacts recruitment long before contracts are signed: 90% evaluate travel demands when reviewing offers, and a significant portion will decline an offer outright over an excessive journey. For companies building an employer brand, this is a crucial metric.
Kariyer.net CEO Fatih Uysal observed: "Our findings demonstrate that transit isn't merely a private experience — it directly influences output, morale, job choices, and talent management. It is a aspect of employee experience organizations cannot ignore."
Volt Lines COO Özgün Şahin noted: "The Journey Report confirms that travel has shifted from a logistical concern to a strategic talent management priority. It dictates decisions for 90% of candidates, while a quarter of staff begin their day already fatigued. Urban traffic stems largely from inefficient single-occupancy vehicles. With 62% of workers eager to use corporate shared transit, companies have a clear reason to explore these solutions."
Bringing the data to the room
Instead of simply asking for better transit, employees prioritize spending less time on the road through flexible schedules, reduced office days, and subsidized transport costs. The initiative went beyond publishing data: on May 12 and August 19, Kariyer.net and Volt Lines hosted HR leaders for interactive discussions on how these findings shape retention, attendance, and corporate policy.
Want to see what the Journey Report found for your industry, or talk through what a shared-ride pilot could look like for your team? Reach out and we'll walk you through the data.
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