WFH v Office Working - From Travel to Your Coffee Breaks: the REAL Cost

Written by: Stephen Linsley

With Ofgem’s announcement of energy price cap rises on top of soaring fuel costs and high inflation employees are seriously starting to weigh up the cost of working from home against that of going into the office.?

Oak Engage have compiled research across the board to help you make sense of the costs.?

How Much Will WFH Cost??

Ofgem’s energy cap will rise by a staggering 80% in October. Money saving expert, Martin Lewis estimates that annual bills will rise by ￡1,600 on average for 24 million UK households.?

Although many of us will try to cut down where we can when working from home, Wifi and cooking meals will cost significantly more. Not to mention heating if you want to be comfortable during the winter months.?

We have researched the annual cost of coffee breaks, running your router, PC, and cooking your lunch at home compared to one year ago. Take a look at our findings :

Calculated using: Sus-IT Energy Calculator

How Much Will Working in the Office Cost??

Unless you’re fortunate enough not?experience a steep rise in costs, you’ll no doubt be aware that petrol and diesel now cost a small fortune. At the time of writing, it would cost you ￡8.10 per day for a 20 mile round trip in a Ford Fiesta on top of parking costs which can be as much ￡40 per day in London and ￡18 in Manchester.?

If you’re driving into the office you can use this calculator to measure the cost.?

Credit: Shutterstock

Public transport is not cheap either! Despite plans from the UK government to cap bus fares from October, buses may not be a feasible option for some.?

Commuting by train can also cost nearly as much as energy bills!?Take a look at the cost of some of the common commutes in the UK:

See how much a rail season ticket would cost you with this calculator.

Non-Travel Costs…

At the start of 2020 when full-time office work was the norm, Nationwide released a study that found the average worker spent ￡1,715 per year on ‘office treats’. Team lunches, birthdays, the lunchtime trip to the shop, they all add up!?

For those with children and limited access to free childcare, being in the office can pose a significant financial burden. A part-time place at nursery for a child under two will cost ￡7,212 per year and a part-time childminder place ￡6,469.?

Read the full blog to find out business costs and anomalies of the costs of WFH….?