With gas prices spiking, you now have a new reason to ask your boss to work from home

Matt McClain, a petroleum analyst at the gas-saving app GasBuddy, says that prices are bound to go higher if the situation persists. “If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, I’ll be happy if they only stayed at $4 a gallon”, he says (3).

That's a real hit to the budget of anyone commuting to an office every day. And if your job can be done from a laptop, now could be the right time to ask your boss to let you work from home.

The real cost to commuters

Before the war, the average daily commute cost for US employees had already climbed to $15 and about $5,750 annually — just to get to and from your desk. And some areas are even costlier: For example, it's $12,650 for those based in San Francisco — or nearly $35 a day (4).

Now, with the price of gas rising, some people spend $18 to $19 a day on their commute and that's for those who drive an average car that gets 24.9 miles per gallon (5).

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said in an X post: “Prices aren't likely to drop back fully down to pre-war prices until later this year, since seasonal factors will prevent a full drop back down.”

This means there's a high chance these numbers will continue to rise, for as long as the Strait stays closed.

Meanwhile, workers who already have remote days are quietly saving real money. An Owl Labs study found that hybrid workers save around $42 per day on the days they work from home compared to days in the office (6).

If you're currently going in five days a week, even two days from home a week can save you a meaningful sum of money.

Why now is a good time to ask

More companies have been pushing for their employees to return to office, following the end of the COVID-19 crisis. But gas prices should have a way of reopening that conversation.

Even workplace consultancy Korn Ferry writes that the "Return-to-office efforts seemed complete … then came an oil crisis in the Middle East. With average gas prices jumping up more than 15% in a week and the cost of filling up a tank exceeding $50, the return-to-office debate appears to be heating up again" (7).

That's your opening.

The International Energy Agency — a global body representing the world's largest oil-consuming nations — also advises people to work from home to reduce gas needed for commuting and to ease the demand for energy in this crisis (8). You aren't only asking for a perk, since you are also following a global energy security protocol.

Korn Ferry's consultant, Dennis Deans, also suggests that managers reconsider which days are critical for in-office work for hybrid workers and plan around them — but they must communicate clearly to the employees that the arrangement is only until gas prices go back to normal (5).

Your employer likely hasn't read these reports — but you can mention them.

How to make your case

Begin by focusing on what’s in it for the company. Employers save an average of $11,000 per year for each remote worker, because they have reduced real estate costs, lower turnover and better productivity (9). Since hybrid settings improve your productivity and add less strain on your pocket, it's basically a win-win for you and your boss.

If they're still skeptical, propose something specific and temporary. You can ask for two or three days home per week for the next 60 days, or at least until the gas price goes down. The clear timeline and conditions provide clarity and structure that are easy to reassess.

One Denver housekeeping company did something similar. They cut required office days and also reorganized routes to reduce the driving distance between their employees’ homes and the office.

Also, proactively address any concerns your employer may have about reduced in-office days.

• Let them know you’ll be available during work hours.
• Agree on where and how best to reach you.
• And how your productivity can be measured.

These points should help alleviate concerns about the motivations for your ask.

When gas prices ease, revisit the schedule proactively to sustain trust. And, if this arrangement works for both you and your employer within those 60 days, you may have built a precedent for something more lasting.

What if your employer still wants you in the office?

Some jobs genuinely can't be done remotely and some bosses won't approve this ask, regardless of the rationale. But there are still ways to dull some of the sting to your budget.

Carpooling even one day a week can reduce how much you spend on commuting. If you live close to your co-workers or people that are going your way, you can join them or pull money together to get gas in one car and take it to and from work.