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Employees and businesses focus on health care as the No. 1 benefit in any benefits package. But a new trend is making people rethink a lot of things about jobs and benefits: Longer commutes. It’s making some people wonder if commuting is the next health care in terms of how it impacts the job market.

Edenred Commuter Benefits, a leading provider of pre-tax commuter benefits, announced today that it has been selected by the The City of New York’s Financial Information Services Agency and Office of Payroll Administration (FISA-OPA) to administer and manage the City’s employee commuter benefits program.

Does your daily life revolve around the car? Or are you predominately a walker, biker or mass transit rider?

The answer can involve where you live, how much you make and many other interesting demographic factors.

The website CityLab did a statistical analysis of the commuting data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and found many interesting facts. The data covered more than 270 metro areas.

CityLab’s thesis, based on research of various data, says how we commute is a significant aspect of the nation’s economic and political divide. The car has become a key feature within the trends that are developing.

For example, areas with more college graduates have less single-occupant commuters. Weather doesn’t have as significant an impact on commuting as you think as more people drive to work than use transit where the weather is warm.

Here are some the specific findings for commuting options.

Employers are offering more benefit options as they know it’s essential to attract and retain employees in today’s hot job market.

But the benefits landscape has changed tremendously in the past decade. No longer are health plans and vacation time the only thing employees want in a benefits package.

Work perks, the fringe benefits that go beyond traditional offerings, are on the rise. Millennial workers tend to favor “non-traditional” benefits like student loan reimbursement or tuition reimbursement, and paid personal days. Older workers still want strong benefits packages that have stood the test of time.

So what does a great employee benefits package look like? It’s going to depend on your workforce, but here’s what many would consider a modern version of “great benefits.”

Perhaps it’s the hot job market, or maybe employers are doing a better job motivating employees. Whatever the reason, more employees than ever are saying they feel “engaged” in their work.

Gallup conducts an annual employee engagement survey, and the 2018 results were all-time highs. About 34 percent of U.S. Workers said they were engaged at work, tying the highest percentage in the poll’s history.

But it doesn’t stop there. The number of workers who say they are “actively disengaged” is now 13 percent — the lowest in history.

Studies show an engaged workforce is related to positive business outcomes. Having engaged employees help reduce turnover and creates a better bond with employees. Ultimately, you get a more a productive workforce that drives better results.

Would you like to know if your employees are engaged? Gartner recommends at least nine questions for an employee engagement survey including:

Do you want to make more of your morning commute? You can dedicate some time to read if you use public transport to get to work. In this blog post we are going to share some tips to make that happen.

Would you forgo a 56 percent pay increase if you could go from the worst job benefits and perks to the best?

If you answered yes, then you agree with a new research from the National Bureau of Economic Research. The study showed people switching from a job with the worst mix of perks and benefits to the best was worth 56 percent in increased wages.

Employers want to attract and retain top talent — and they are funding HR budgets to do it.

A new national survey of more than 4,200 employers reveals they are spending more on benefits packages because of the hot job market.

The Gallagher Benefits Strategy and Benchmarking Survey is conducted every year by Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., a United States-based insurance company. In this blog post we’ll share the major trends revealed in the survey.

Winter’s a jolly time for outdoor activities if you don’t mind the cold temperatures.

But winter can also be a tough time for even your most engaged employees. The cold weather, lack of sunlight and shorter days can cause harm to both the body and mind. At its worse, some people may be dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that can mean trouble sleeping, loss of interest and even hopelessness, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

There are very few businesses that can shut down for the winter, though. Here are some things you can do to keep your employees engaged during what many think of as the most dreadful season.