Employers help workers handle high gas prices

With three in 10 workers looking for jobs closer to home, communicators must get the message out that the company cares

U.S. gas prices are hovering around record $4 per gallon across the country, and people are panicking—and looking for jobs they don’t have to commute to.

And that’s got employers concerned.

A new Robert Half survey revealed that higher gas prices have affected the commutes of 44 percent of professionals—and 30 percent are looking for jobs closer to their homes.

Not wanting to lose valued employees, many companies are exploring ways to ease their anxiety— and internal communicators need to get this message to their audiences.

“Employers may be missing an opportunity to improve morale and reduce turnover by helping their staff cope with the burden of rising gas prices. Often, it can be as simple as communicating to employees what programs are already in place,” says Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International. “Companies can build loyalty and motivation by showing employees that they are empathetic to their concerns during challenging times.”