People who work from home appear to be keen to find a third-place that is neither their house or their office to carry out their business, according to recent research.

Conducted by ZZA Responsive User Environments and supported by Regus, the study found that people are often spending time in coffee shops, business centres and libraries to avoid becoming stuck at home.

The idea is one that could appeal to homeworkers in particular, who often become frustrated with the loneliness of working from home. Breaking up the week with some days in a busy public area could well stimulate productivity and reduce stress.

The report looked at business people from around the world and discovered that, for 52 per cent of people who use third-places to work, business centres are the most popular location. Indeed, 72 per cent of this group will spend three or more days a week here as they find them to be more productive environments.

Professor Ziona Strelitz, who authored the report, concluded that third-place working can enhance the quality of life of many employees. The professor added: “Today’s dynamic technological, economic and social conditions create opportunities for individuals and pose new challenges for organisations. Attracting and harnessing talent is a central challenge for business.”