How can you reduce commuting stress as an employer?

Almost half of all working Belgians experience commuting stress. And 20 per cent feel that their employer shows too little understanding of this. This commuting stress plays a part in how employees choose their employer, and also in whether they stay with you. It is therefore important, as an employer, to be mindful of this. How do you tackle commuting stress as an employer? And what does that mean for your employer branding?

Commuting is part of the working day for most Belgians. In fact, we spend more time commuting than people in other European countries: an average of 61 minutes a day, compared to an average of 48 minutes. And that commuting time takes its toll.

43 per cent of Belgians experience commuting stress every week

In a 2025 survey by o2o Bicycle Leasing, over 1,000 working Belgians shared their views on how they experience their commute. The figures speak for themselves:

• 12 per cent experience stress from their commute every day.
• 22 per cent experience moderate to severe stress every week.
• 43 per cent experience commuting stress at least once a week.

Nor does that stress stay confined to the car, the train or the cycle path. 16 per cent often arrive at work exhausted, even before the working day begins. And 12 per cent even notice that commuting affects their performance at work.

Commuting stress influences how employees view their employer

20 per cent of those surveyed feel that their employer shows too little understanding of commuting stress. In the group experiencing the most commuting stress, this figure rises to as much as 46 per cent.

Even more striking: 31 per cent would prefer to work closer to home because of the stress. Among those experiencing a high level of stress, that figure rises to 58 per cent. Commuting therefore plays a part in which employer staff choose, and whether they stay with you.

16 per cent often arrive exhausted, even before the working day begins. And 12 per cent even notice that commuting affects their performance at work.

Tackling commuting stress starts with your mobility policy

How your staff get to work may seem like a personal choice. Yet, as an employer, you help determine what options they have. With a well-thought-out mobility policy, you give them more opportunities to choose the mode of transport that suits them best: public transport, cycling, the car or a combination.

Mobility is therefore more than just logistics. It is part of your wellbeing policy, and part of how you attract and retain employees.

For a long time, the company car was the norm. But your employees live at varying distances, work to different schedules and have different needs. That is why more and more employers are opting for a mobility mix: offering a range of options side by side.

What mobility options do you have as an employer?

You can put together a mobility mix using various building blocks. The most commonly used are:

• Flexible working hours and working from home. This allows employees to avoid rush hour. Among those who can always do this, 9 per cent experience a lot of commuting stress. Among those who can never avoid rush hour, the figure is 39 per cent.
• Bicycle leasing. Employees lease a bicycle through their employer, with a tax benefit. Of those who cycle to work, 14 per cent experience a great deal of commuting stress. Among those who commute by car or public transport, the figure is 26 per cent.
• Contribution towards public transport. You contribute towards the cost of a subscription for those who travel by train, tram or bus.
• Bicycle allowance. Employees receive an allowance per kilometre they cycle to work. For 28 per cent of employees who cycle, this allowance is one of the main reasons for cycling to work.
• Company car. For roles that require a car, this remains an unavoidable choice. Of those who commute using a company car, 47 per cent experience stress on a weekly basis. Traffic jams are the biggest stress factor here.

Soft mobility scores highest: those who commute on foot or by bike are most likely to find the journey relaxing.

Mobility is more than just logistics. It is part of your wellbeing policy, and part of how you attract and retain staff.

Listen to your staff first

Which options are suitable depends on your staff. Someone who lives 5 kilometres from work has different needs to someone who commutes 50 kilometres. Those who work shifts leave at different times to those who work in the office. And those who visit clients during the day often need a car. So first take a look at how your employees commute today. A quick survey or a glance at where they live will quickly give you a good idea.

Tip: make commuting stress a topic of discussion. Include it in your wellbeing policy and show that you’re aware of the issue. This will help reduce the number of people who feel misunderstood.

Add bicycle leasing to your mobility mix

Want to expand your mobility mix without it costing you much time, money or effort? Then bicycle leasing is a good first step. Find out all about it in the bicycle leasing guide.

Which option makes the biggest difference to commuting stress? The figures point in one direction. Those who cycle (on an electric bike) to work experience less commuting stress.

This difference is partly due to the shorter distances cyclists travel: on average, they live closer to work. Nevertheless, 29 per cent of cyclists consciously choose to cycle because it causes less stress. Cycling commuters also cite health, enjoyment and a moment to themselves as reasons for choosing the bike.

Make cycling to work more accessible

Do your employees also want to arrive at work feeling relaxed? With bicycle leasing, you can make cycling to work much more affordable. This way, your employees can get a bicycle at up to 40 per cent less, and they gain access to higher-quality bikes that better suit their commuting needs. Find out everything about bicycle leasing in the bicycle leasing guide.

Four in ten employees would prefer to cycle to work

If Belgians were completely free to choose, 40% would prefer to cycle to work. By way of comparison: 30% would opt for the car if they were free to choose.

Today, around 1 in 5 employees actually cycle to work. So there’s a gap between aspiration and reality. And that’s where you, as an employer, have a role to play. With the right mobility policy – for example, by offering bicycle leasing combined with an attractive bicycle allowance – you can help employees turn that aspiration into reality. What you offer helps shape the choices employees make.

Cycling commuters also cite health, enjoyment and a moment to themselves as reasons for choosing the bike.

Start your mobility mix with a step that makes a difference straight away

There’s no need to overhaul your entire mobility policy all at once. Many HR teams build it up step by step. They start with an option that fits within the HR budget, works for many employees and requires little administration.

Bicycle leasing is often a logical first step in this regard. It is accessible to a large workforce and often available to both white-collar and blue-collar workers. Thanks to a wide range of options, including second-hand bikes, even those on a tighter budget can find a lease bicycle that suits them. And because bicyce leasing is budget-neutral, you can offer more choice without increasing your wage costs.

"We have a small HR team, so every decision has to be carefully considered. Bicycle leasing was one of the easiest and quickest schemes to set up. That makes it very attractive for both the employer and the employee." - Nadine Samson, HR Director at Electro Depot

About the survey

This survey was commissioned by o2o Bicycle Leasing. Between 24 September and 3 October 2025, 1,039 working Belgians from Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels completed an online questionnaire. The results have been weighted by age, gender, language, educational background and region, with a margin of error of no more than 3 per cent.