Employees who are able to work from home are more productive than their office-bound colleagues because they are less distracted, grateful for the flexibility and the time they save on commuting is ploughed back into work.
These findings, from the London School of Economics and Political Science, endorse a general move towards more flexible working practices in the UK, although the private sector is lagging behind in this respect.
Dr Alexandra Beauregard from LSE’s Department of Management says working from home does not suit everyone, however.
“The happiest employees are those who can work partially from home and partially in the office. They report the highest levels of work/life satisfaction because they can juggle personal responsibilities yet are not socially isolated,” Dr Beauregard says.
The arrangement does not work as well with extroverts who are better suited to the social interaction an office usually provides.
The other major benefit for employers is cost savings due to fewer overheads in the office environment.
There is also evidence that employers who offer flexible working arrangements are rated more highly by potential staff, Dr Beauregard adds.
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