Distance Weighs More Than You Think

Last week a client told us an interesting story: an executive resigned to accept a position that paid less than his current company offered.

The reason? At his previous job, he spent an hour and a half commuting. The new position is 15 minutes from home.

The gain was simple and decisive: time and quality of life.

The distance from home to work isn't a minor detail. It impacts attraction, performance, and retention.

The Cost of the Commute

In Brazil, 8% of the population spends more than 3 hours per day just commuting. Another 20% spend between one and two hours. And 71% of professionals say this time harms their productivity.

International research shows the same pattern: every additional 5 minutes of commute increases the probability of turnover.

In other words, long commutes don't just deter talent during hiring — they also drain energy, increase absences, and accelerate departures.

The good news is that many companies still ignore this factor... and that creates room for a competitive advantage!

At Catena, we apply a clear criterion: up to one hour by public transport for in-person or hybrid positions. Beyond that, the risk of losing candidates increases.

Distance doesn't just impact attraction. It affects performance, well-being, and retention.

And your company? Are you already measuring the weight of distance in your hiring decisions?