More Americans alter commuting plans: survey

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Gasoline prices around $4 per gallon are causing more Americans to change their work arrangements or the way they commute to the office, according to a new survey on Thursday.

The survey, by staffing services company Robert Half International Inc, found 44 percent of respondents said gas prices have affected how they get to work or the way they organize their work schedule. That is up from 34 percent who said so two years ago when a gallon of gasoline in the United States cost about $2.89, though a majority said they still have not changed their plans.

The most common changes include ride-sharing, driving a more fuel-efficient car, working from home and looking for a job closer to home, according to the survey.

About a quarter of those who said they have changed their habits said they have asked for higher pay, relied more on public transportation, or started walking and biking to work.

Regular gasoline averages $3.94 per gallon in the United States, the Energy Information Administration said this week, and tops $4 a gallon in 11 states and the District of Columbia. Crude oil prices have retreated somewhat from record highs, but are still near $129 per barrel.

Robert Half, which specializes in accounting and finance jobs, suggests companies could boost workers' morale and build loyalty by helping defray the cost of getting to the office. Options include higher reimbursements for travel, organizing ride shares, more telecommuting options and subsidizing transportation costs.

Currently, 59 percent of workers say their companies offer none of those options.

For the majority of workers who said their commute has not changed, gas prices would have to rise more than $1 per gallon, on average, to affect their commutes, the survey found.

(Reporting by Nick Zieminski; Editing by Derek Caney and Maureen Bavdek)