Regional officials and experts are working to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on commuting and the workforce as they plan for an eventual full reopening and recovery, and two surveys reveal the pandemic could have lasting effects on the way the region works.
Commuter Connections, a program of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) at COG, surveyed area employers who participate in its Employer Outreach program in May and June about teleworking at their organizations, including questions about the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on telework.
The survey, which was presented to the TPB today, highlighted the key role teleworking has played in ensuring the continuity of business operations during the pandemic. Nearly all (97 percent) of the 180 employers that participated in the survey said at least some employees were teleworking since the start of the pandemic. More than half (55 percent) said all employees teleworked all of their workdays. The average share of employees who teleworked grew to 82 percent at sites with telework already in place. For reference, in pre-pandemic times, the 2019 Commuter Connections State of the Commute Survey found that more than one-third (35 percent) of regional commuters said they teleworked at least occasionally.
The employer telework survey also asked about post-pandemic plans. Fifty-seven percent of work sites expected to see a long-term increase in teleworking, even when the pandemic is over.
COG joined with the Greater Washington Partnership in August to encourage area employers to participate in a wider survey, which received responses from 430 area organizations employing more than 275,000 full time, part-time, and contracted workers.
Earlier this week, the partnership released the Capital COVID-19 Snapshot: Safe Return to Work Report summarizing key findings from the survey, such as surveyed employers expect 72 percent of employees will be back in the office by summer 2021 and many will continue to offer flexible work options. According to the report, the health and safety of employees and their families is driving employer return-to-work decisions.
In conjunction with the report release, the Greater Washington Partnership also released a regional Transit Tracker that provides ridership trends and the social distancing carrying capacity for metropolitan Washington area transit operations.
COG transportation staff are currently assisting the partnership by surveying, compiling, and summarizing transit agency plans for returning to full service. And for those portions of the workforce continuing to report to their workplace or planning a return, the Commuter Connections Commute with Confidence clearinghouse is also serving as a source of COVID-19 commuting-related information and safety tips.
MORE: Commuter Connections Employer Telework Survey