Australian workers are increasingly demanding that their employer compensate them for commuting costs and contribute to their home internet bills as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite.
According to a new survey conducted by software research site Capterra, the ongoing cost of living crisis in Australia has spurred workers to expect more support from their employers for costs associated with their work lives, such as petrol and home office supplies.
“The cost of living is undeniably making the ways to manage work-related expenses exponentially harder,” Capterra Australia content analyst Laura Burgess said.
“However, with the proper policies in place, companies can provide support that will take some pressure off their workers.”
Many Australian companies are pushing for their workers to return to the physical office for at least some days each work, after the rapid rise of remote working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But coupled with inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, the expenses associated with this can have a significant impact on the finances of workers.
“Companies must see the value in investing in their employees beyond their salaries, which could help in their productivity during remote work and lessen their financial burden at some level,” the report said.
More than three-quarters of the Australian workers surveyed said they were feeling some level of financial stress and had observed that job-related costs had increased in the last 12 months.
This was far higher than the global average of 60 per cent.
Both in-office and remote workers wanted their employer to contribute more to their work-related expenses.
Of the nearly 250 Aussie workers surveyed, two-thirds of those working in the office believed that their parking fees should be paid for, and nearly three-quarters felt that any required clothing or uniform should also be provided by their company.
For those working remotely or in a hybrid capacity, 77 per cent of respondents said their employer should supply a computer, and 67 per cent agreed that office equipment to be used at home should also be provided free of charge.
A further 65 per cent said that other office supplies should also be provided by the company, while 44 per cent believe their employer should share the cost of their home internet connection.
Financial wellbeing
Australian employers should look at this data and consider ways to help their employees deal with the rising cost of living, Burgess said.
“With our research revealing that 71 per cent of employees have salaries that do not keep up with rising costs, this reinforces that companies should study and consider providing support to their employees that can reduce financial burdens and increase productivity,” she said.
Nearly half of the workers attending the office in-person said that they are spending the most on petrol, and nearly half said that their work should be footing this bill.
For those commuting to work via public transport, 45 per cent of those surveyed said their employer should be paying for it.
The research suggests that while some companies are looking to novelties to lure workers back to the office, what people really need is support in meeting daily costs associated with their work.
Some local tech companies are offering free lunches, kombucha on tap and weekly tennis lessons as they look to bring their workers back to the office after years of remote and hybrid workers.
But the demand for remote work has not abated, and is now seen in senior executives along with more junior employees, and companies risking a leadership vacuum if they persist with return-to-office mandates.
