Post by Indiana University Indianapolis

A new study from Kelley School of Business Indianapolis shows that commute stress can affect employee behavior, creating a counterproductive workplace environment. Assistant professor of management at Kelley Indianapolis, Jake Gale, and a team of researchers found that subtle frustrations can follow employees into their day and shape how they interact with others — but Gale's research goes beyond that simple connection. “I didn’t want this research to just say: Yeah, your commute makes you mad and here’s why,” said Gale. “I wanted to find a way to prevent this from occurring.” The solution, researchers discovered, is surprisingly simple: listening to relaxing music before heading into work. Participants who spent a few minutes listening to music significantly improved their mood before starting the workday and disrupted the carryover effect from their commute. Learn more about Gale's research: https://hey.iu.edu/uqVtH