#commute

Always has been. Now with a side of gas price misery.

Assigned city X to relocate. Asked for city Y. Accepted relo. Now regretting decision due to horror stories of commute and bad work life balance. I don’t think I can sustain city Y. What to do?

First time to Dallas. I am seeing traffic is 1 to 1 and half hour each way. Normal traffic in other cities is around 45-50 minutes.

What time do you guys start and leave from work to be in compliance but still have time to pick up/drop off kids.

#LifeAtATT

By this time next year, should we expect it to move to 5? Anyone jumping ship?

I’m exhausted. The commute, the cost, five days in a seat for work that still happens on a laptop and on calls with people who aren’t even here.

Let’s stop pretending this is improving anything. It’s not driving better results, it’s just draining people. Then leadership turns around and wonders why effort drops.

People aren’t checking out for no reason. They’re burned out from a system that makes zero sense.

This isn’t better for employees, and it’s not better for the company.

Roll it back to hybrid and start measuring output instead of presence.

Planning to move to a hub to save job with single salary. Which one offers low commute and best work life balance and not get fired in a year of moving?

Totally new to the place. Which areas are you staying for good schools, decent commute. How does parking work for HQ. McKinney, Frisco and Plano are looking as good areas but don’t want to go too far out to commute.

Got laid off last year and have been searching for months. Finally landed an offer but the commute is rough. About 75 minutes each way with traffic. I used to work from home for nearly six years before all this, so the thought of doing that drive three days a week is making me feel sick. After eight months of looking, I'm scared to say no even though I'm not desperate financially. Anyone been in this spot?

Is it true that we are being asked to move in July? Manager has no information. Told that we have time till September. Looking aggressively for an opening in Philly area jut no luck. Have to start looking for apartments if moved to NYC than commuting.

Apartments are very unaffordable in N Jersey or NYC suburbs with commuting time and cost. The overall tax impact is also high, if one has to move to NYC location.

Effectively a pay cut in these hard times.

HOUSING
Property taxes in Houston remain a double-edged sword: while they fund essential local services in the absence of a state income tax, they are among the highest in the nation.

Surging property values are leading to higher overall tax bills.

Due to rising home prices and interest rates. Monthly mortgage payments have climbing 44% since 2021 not including increases in taxes and insurance. Few have received raises of a similar magnitude.

Beyond the purchase price, rising insurance premiums and climate-related costs (like flooding and extreme heat) are making homeownership increasingly expensive.

TRAFFIC
Houston traffic is increasingly viewed as unlivable, with commuters losing nearly four days annually to delays, a number that rose in 2026. It ranks among the worst in Texas, characterized by severe bottlenecks on I-45 and Loop 610, aggressive driving, and rapid sprawl, making it one of the least livable major US metros.

I am paying nearly 30% more for my commute every week, and that’s in my econobox of a ten year old Toyota. I asked my boss if I could WFH one or two days a week. His response was su-k it up, “You don’t hear the people driving those 4WD trucks and SUVs complaining, do you?”

Especially with gas prices climbing. And since raises don't keep up with actual inflation, the rumored 5-day RTO would fit perfectly with their plan to push out as many of us as they can.

Today Trump acknowledged fuel costs would not decrease until November, if even then.

Just wanted to vent on the whole connect week policy for regional centers- I'm quite frankly embarrassed to hold client zoom meetings when in the office- that clients have to hear the background noise of loud talking, laughing and coughing. I understand the loud talking as we are all raising our levels to ensure our clients can hear us over our colleagues. I wonder what client's impressions would be if they could actually see behind the scenes. All the negativity I see & hear from co-workers on the fact they have to go into the office isn't helping my morale either. At the end of the connect week I continually ask myself why did I need to go into the office? Not only did I not gain anything from it other than another cold/ flu virus but feel demoralized & with less money in my pocket after filling up my car.

What is this nonsensical RTO mandate going to cost you? Is RTO really all about foot traffic to justify the real estate investment? Are we secretly being used as pawns but told its for culture and collaboration but at the same time becoming a huge monetary and time burden while being reinforced its for the collaboration and growth of employees while at the same time helping the company justify its use of a building just for tax benefits? Like for real I'm facing an added $2500-$3000 in expenses every month as a result of this RTO mandate. The office I've been assigned to is over an hour away without traffic. So in a perfect world I am losing at least 10 hours per week in commute times. I actually expect this number to be about 22 hours/week based on our traffic. This is not work life balance. But hey at least that 1.5% raise I was GIVEN should cover the costs. I felt I should have EARNED more after exceeding all expectations again but I guess you get what they give you since performance and attendance mean nothing apparently. Would've been cool to get a 30% compensation boost like CEO.

Also I must point out there has been zero follow-up to Bill's email from mid January. The latest ethics and culture survey asks nothing about RTO.

I am the only one from my team in this state. What can I do in the office that cannot be done from a remote location? Besides playing workspace roulette when trying to find a quiet area to handle 5-7 hours of calls per day. I've tried to look at this from different angles but I can't get past this idea that the property valuations have been blamed on us and because of that we are being required to RTO 5 days/week to justify the use of a building. They do not care about the time, money, and tax burden this is causing thousands of employees because when you're worth tens of millions these burdens don't influence you or your decisions.

People leaving adds more pressure on the people who stay. Vacant positions aren't being fulfilled as quickly because of this RTO decision. Talent goes out the door. We have to work more hours. We have to spend more time and money. We have to train and onboard new people and hope they don't abandon ship or get pulled to a different team. This is a lose-lose scenario for tens of thousands of us.

Just a rant!!

Earlier, 11 days used to do it but now 61% is 14 days. Makes no sense. My entire team is remote, I was hired remote but forcefully transitioned me to an office. I come here just to attend meetings and work alone with no in office interaction all while bearing additional cost of gas and parking

It feels like I'm paying for the privilege of having a job.

packed it up and move to either St Louis Missouri, Chicago Illinois, Detroit Michigan Memphis Tennessee Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Baltimore Maryland or Washington DC

But in US with $7 a gallon they demand driving around into office multiple times a day. Rich Americans can afford $200 more a month is the message.

How far is your commute? Did you put your kids in before and after care? How do you manage the schedule when both parents need to work and clock 8 hours? Any exceptions if kids have issues at school and you need to pick them up?

ALL they care about are badge swipes. That's it. Swipe your badge and you get a gold star for "going to the office."

But does anyone ACTUALLY stay for a full workday? I mean, I drive an hour to the office and stay for 1.5-2 hours and then go home because why stay? Cafeteria food prices are way more expensive than ever and none of the food is not worth the price. One person on my actual team goes to my office and we both leave at the same time. Which is typically 11:30-12pm.

I’m at the point where I’m not gonna be able to afford to drive to the office anymore. I live 45 minutes from the office (pretty much the average for anyone in Jacksonville), and my truck gets 13 miles to the gallon. And it’s not like I could just get a new vehicle in this environment..

Jacksonville Florida has no public transportation that will get me from where I live to the office at a reasonable rate and I’ve already explored carpool options, but it’s just not gonna work out.

At what point is the company addressed this if they really care about their associates and being “green”? Does their green initiative only extend as far as giving us canned water, or is the company going to give employees the actual relief they need in regards to flexibility when oil/gas prices surge she’s such an unreasonable amount!??

We already proved we support the company through the pandemic, so give us a break… or, at the very least, let our stocks vest faster so we can stay afloat and afford gas or invest in a new vehicle.

These are the employee benefits, an associate appreciation that we ACTUALLY want.. keep your pizza and cupcakes. Invest in what your workforce needs to survive.

I love my 2.5 hour round trip to the Dallas HQ. It really gives me time to think and plan through my day before I start.

Once again a large police presence on Stanwix street yesterday late afternoon when a wanted female was chased and apprehended on federal firearm charges along with charges related to carjacking, kidnapping and robbery. The streets around the PNC buildings are littered with crime, dr-gs and the mentally unstable. Just steps from the PNC headquarters on Wood St. is a large bus stop where I have personally witnessed fights and dr-g use. Plus the weekly uncapped used needles on the sidewalk. PNC's RTO message in January did not mention a single thing regarding the crime in the streets or the safety of the employees. So while the executives and Bill get executive protection what do we get? A 1.5% raise that will be eaten up by commute costs in just 6 weeks.
For context I have been remote for a few years and have not had to deal with daily crime of the Pittsburgh streets. I feel fortunate to have that option. Crime wasn't as bad when I was in the office.

Sure all big cities have their problems and this is nothing new for Pittsburgh. Unfortunately the city has only gotten worse. Don't get your hopes up because the NFL draft is coming to Pittsburgh and the city workers are attempting to make things look clean and inviting. Because as soon as the draft packs up those "nuisance problems" will be back.

So how do we defend ourself?

Wondering what the deal is with moving a bunch of us from VPC and TOC downtown to the new Station B office? This is adding at least another 30 minutes to my already lengthy commute! Anyone understand what’s the real reason for this?

So that’s why they have that stupid new goal about being present in office or some garbage.

Man, what about those of us that take long and frequent bathroom break because we are old and have fiber and bladder problems??? Every trip to p-e takes over 10 minutes to walk back and forth, and it takes a long time to empty it out because it drops so slowly as a 60 years old.

I am so glad I am retiring this year. I feel horrible for the young folks and all the folks that were hired as WFH and took a lower salary, now have to spend money to commute

Sort of like college so people can spend more time working and less time commuting if they are single or live far away? Nothing special similar to a college dorm with small rooms and community bathrooms. Or a hotel type setup. Minimal cost to the employees? I would definitely do that to cater to my minimal lifestyle and get out of traffic.

Costing me a hundred a week now from ross to work.cant see myself being able to continue if these hikes continue.just not worth it on these wages.

Riddle me this:

Will Fiserv ever have the brains to permit WFH with exorbitant fuel costs that are imminent?

Seriously, we were able to work 2.5 years from home with little issue. For those of us who live further away from the office and still drive in, the cost of commuting makes zero sense during these uncertain times.

Increase the in-office mandate right when gas prices are pushing people's budgets to the limit. Nothing says "we value our employees" like forcing them to choose between a paycheck and a tank of gas.

My commute to my assigned Oracle office is 81 miles each way. They are saying on the News now that the price of gas in California could climb to $15 a gallon due global politics and the largest oil refinery shutting down and leaving the state during the third quarter of this year.

You know - increased efficiency, better outcomes. Measurable effects of increased collaboration. By how much people became more creative and better at problem solving. And of course, how much happier and healthier we are from coming into the office and being around other people.

I can only speak for myself. My life has improved immensely. I'm positively cheerful. I get excited every time I pull into a gas station to tank up. I've made so many new friends! Doesn't matter that none of them are on my team. I barely see my family anymore, but socializing in the office is a fair tradeoff. And where else would I find time to listen to my favorite podcasts if not during my hour-plus commute? So many improvements!

To Control gas prices & save the our reserves, Should WFH allowed until war ends?

You should either transfer to the Nashville TN office where gas is cheaper or look to see if Oracle plans to open an office in Saint Louis Missouri and move there where gas prices are cheaper than they are in California.
You probably won’t miss California moving to Nashville or Saint Louis

Three hours round trip, every day. I need this job, so I put up with everything RTO has brought. It's pointless, costly, and drains my time and energy. But with so few alternatives, I don't have much choice. Not once did I expect leadership to reconsider. They know most of us are cornered, and they're counting on it.

Make commuting su-k more.

Updates coming to ways of working. They'll have us all in the office more in hopes the gas prices, commute, and micromanaging makes people quit. Theyve basically said as much to members of leadership.

RTO is going to really. hurt now. Glad the recent raise will be useless now.

For those of you who go to the downtown office all the way from up north near McKinney has anyone tried commuting through Harry Hines Blvd? Is it faster than taking the normal highways? Do they have an express lane? I am going to try it one of these days.