The traditional concept of 'rush' hour has evolved, with 10-to-4 work hours now being the equivalent of the previous 9-to-5, according to commuting data.

• "Rush" hour isn't what it used to be.
• Commuters are going in later and leaving earlier, according to traffic data.
• Nowadays, with more flexible work arrangements, many individuals opt for part-time office visits or "coffee badging" instead of a full day at the office.

"Rush" hour isn't what it used to be.

With the increase of flexible working arrangements, there has been a decrease in the number of commuters making early morning or early evening trips, compared to the traffic patterns before the pandemic.

The 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard by INRIX Inc. revealed that the traditional American workday has shifted from 9-to-5 to 10-to-4.

Midday trips are the new normal

"According to Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst and author of the report, there is less of a morning commute, less of an evening commute, and much more afternoon activity. This, he says, is the new normal."

According to the INRIX report, the midday rush hour is almost as busy as the morning and evening rush hours.

During the pandemic, ridership sank and never fully recovered, according to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data, causing commuters to mostly abandon public transportation.

According to Pishue, there is an increase in traffic congestion during peak midday and evening hours.

"Pre-Covid, the morning rush hour was a peak, followed by a larger evening peak. Now, there is no valley between them."

Flexibility allows for 'coffee badging'

David Satterwhite, CEO of Chronus, stated that employees have grown accustomed to working from home and only visit the office when necessary.

Satterwhite stated that they might leave early to catch a train home, arrive late or attend only one meeting before departing.

Recent reports indicate that the practice of "coffee badging," or working for only a few hours a day, has become widely accepted or tolerated.

According to a 2023 survey by Owl Labs, more than half of hybrid employees admitted to leaving the office after checking in.

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"The jacket-on-the-back-of-the-chair syndrome was previously referred to as," stated Lynda Gratton, professor of management practice at London Business School.

Organizations must communicate their return-to-office mandate or hybrid schedule clearly to employees, allowing them to decide whether they accept the arrangement.

Gratton stated that coffee badging is the least successful type of compromise because most people still have to commute to the office but don't put in the hours.

Employee burnout shows

Employee burnout has affected the commitment of workers, causing them to struggle with their workload.

After mostly trending up for years, workplace engagement has flatlined.

According to a 2023 Gallup poll, only one-third of full- and part-time employees are engaged in their work and workplace, while roughly 50% are not engaged, and another 16% are actively disengaged.

Gallup discovered that approximately $1.9 trillion in lost productivity is due to disengaged or not actively engaged employees nationwide.

Fewer employees prioritize career progression over work/life balance, flexible hours, and mental health support, as well as spending less time at the office.

If the option to work remotely was eliminated, 66% of employees would begin searching for a job with greater flexibility, according to Owl Labs, and approximately 39% of those workers would resign immediately.

Gratton stated that in order to achieve a more detailed explanation of how one is most productive, it is necessary for a senior team to view this as an opportunity to restructure work rather than merely reacting to events that occurred during the pandemic.