Employers called on to lessen bite of 'emotive' rail fare rises

Employers could take steps to help their staff cope with the increased cost of rail tickets, according to Jonathan Watts-Lay, Director of Wealth at Work.

Fares have increased by an average of 3.4% in the new year with season tickets up by 3.6% - a not insignificant rise for many commuters. With wages only set to grow by 2.6% in 2018, many will see their travel costs take up a greater slice of their earnings.

“Many people don’t have an alternative to taking the train, so it is an emotive issue,” Watts-Lay tells HR Grapevine. “But they can also experience budget shocks in other areas such as council tax, bills or their mortgage.”

He suggests that employers offer money managing workshops to help employees cope with such events. “We’ve been asked a lot more about budgeting and money management,” he said. “As an employer, you can help your staff to see areas that they could save money in – for example, by shopping around you can usually save money on your car insurance or utility bills.