Massachusetts is said to have some of the worst vehicular traffic on Earth, with many workers commuting at least 90 minutes one way to work. The state wants to fix this badly, which is why they are getting set to offer what is likely the first of its kind in the nation: a tax credit for employers for letting workers telecommute.
Under the proposal, an employer would get a $2,000 tax credit for every employee who telecommutes or otherwise works closer to home rather than to the office. The credits would be capped at $50 million for all Massachusetts employers.
It sounds like an appealing proposal, but its critics do raise some fair points about the tax credit. In particular, some say it could disproportionately benefit white-collar workers who have the sort of jobs that lend themselves to telecommuting. Seeing that this is a rather novel approach to solving traffic, those of us here at the Optimist Daily will certainly be keeping an eye on the development of this possible solution to endless traffic.
