Two recently conducted studies have highlighted the increasing desire among British employees to have options when it comes to where and when they work.

Over half (52 per cent) of those polled as part of a Microsoft study suggested that their lives would be made less stressful if the option to work from home was available to them, while almost three-quarters (73 per cent) indicated that flexibility is an important factor in their choice of job.

Meanwhile, research commissioned by First Direct Bank has established that more than one-third of employees working the UK currently do their jobs outside of the typical nine-to-five Monday-to-Friday office hours, reports newbusiness.co.uk.

Duncan Brown, UK consulting director for market intelligence firm IDC UK, is quoted by Microsoft as saying: "The increasingly mobile nature of the working environment is forcing companies to take a more critical look at their business in terms of gaining optimal efficiency, productivity and general business continuity."

Businesses allowing their staff greater flexibility over working hours can help reduce congestion on British roads and overcrowding on public transport, according to the Work Wide UK organisation.