Nearly two-thirds (60 per cent) of employees say commuting expenses are the most crucial costs to have subsidized by employers, according to a new survey by Robert Walters Canada.

The survey, which polled 2,500 white-collar workers in Canada, found a similar percentage (60 per cent) prioritized this benefit over tech equipment, food and health or wellness options. Despite this, nearly nine in 10 (88 per cent) noted they don’t receive any support from employers with their commuting costs.

Read: 29% of Canadian employees want to work remotely to save commuting costs, time: survey

Respondents indicated they’re currently spending, on average, between one per cent and five per cent of their annual salary getting to work. Indeed, roughly three-quarters (74 per cent) claimed commutes are a major factor when considering a new job. Just 13 per cent said they’re willing to spend up to two hours commuting, with even less (two per cent) willing to spend any time beyond that. Notably, only 29 per cent said they’d commute for up to an hour, while more than half (56 per cent) said they wouldn’t travel for any longer than 45 minutes or less.

A third (35 per cent) of employees expressed willingness to stick to a lower-paying job if it offered greater flexibility, rather than switching jobs solely for better pay. Meanwhile, two-fifths (40 per cent) of managers said they’d look to implement ‘hushed hybrid’ working arrangements to help retain staff by allowing them to quietly work from home.

“Hybrid working has been a key working arrangement for many professionals since 2020 and whilst some will be determined to maintain this, others may be more willing and able to make a full-time move back to the office,” said Martin Fox, director of Robert Walters Canada, in a press release. “Employers will no doubt need to re-evaluate their attraction and retention strategies — figuring out what a ‘good employment offer’ means this year — especially to meet professionals’ increasingly diverse needs.”

Read: Redbrick considering range of commuting benefits, perks as part of return-to-office planning