The Challenges of Transportation for Low Wage Employees

Employees face many challenges, but one of the most pressing is transportation. When people earning below a living wage do not have reliable access to transportation, it can be difficult to get to work. This can lead to missed shifts, reduced hours, and even job loss. It’s important for employers to understand these challenges in order to best support their employees who are struggling with transportation-related issues. Let’s take a closer look at how these challenges present themselves and what employers can do to help.

Understanding the Problem

Low-wage employees often lack access to basic forms of transportation like personal vehicles or public transit. As a result, they must rely on friends or family members for rides or walking long distances—both of which can drastically cut into time that could otherwise be spent looking for better employment opportunities or completing necessary tasks like grocery shopping or medical visits. Those without regular access to transportation also miss out on economic opportunities because they cannot easily attend job interviews or get to work in a timely manner if they have an unreliable form of transportation.


What Employers Can Do

Employers have an opportunity—and responsibility—to help employees who may be struggling with transportation issues. One way employers can provide support is by offering flexible scheduling options that allow workers more freedom and autonomy when it comes to planning their day-to-day schedules around their available forms of transportation (or lack thereof). Another idea would be to implement a program that assists employees with the car buying process which includes securing lower pricing and financing. Additionally, employers can look into providing shuttle services from designated pick-up locations as well as discounted public transit passes that employees can purchase through payroll deductions.


Employees face many obstacles when it comes to accessing reliable forms of transportation—obstacles that can impact their ability to work and make ends meet. Employers should strive to understand these challenges and develop solutions that will best support those employees who are affected by them. By offering flexible scheduling options and providing shuttle services or discounted public transit passes, employers will create a more supportive environment where all workers are able to overcome the barriers associated with getting from point A to point B—and beyond!

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