A new report has concluded that potential productivity gains is the main driving force behind the increased implementation of home-based working practices for companies around the world.

Recent research commissioned by Dimension Data found that around 41 per cent of businesses allow their staff to work from home in an effort to establish a more productive workforce.

The study, which was carried out by Datamonitor, also discovered that a full 29 per cent of business managers polled had not yet seen flexible working practices brought in at their firm.

Rob Lopez, managing director of solutions at Dimension Data, commented: "Productivity remains a crucial driver behind organisations’ communications strategies.

"As such, flexi-working, supported by technologies including e-mail, mobile telephony and instant messaging and presence information, can play a significant role in increasing employee productivity."

A report from the Hartford Business news service suggested recently that flexible working practices are becoming an increasingly important part of business strategies among US firms.