Businesses in the north-east of England are being advised to introduce homeworking practices as a way of limiting employee absence.

An upcoming event will aim to make clear the benefits of flexible working to north-east-based companies, after research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development showed that the region suffers particularly badly in terms of sickness absence.

It is hoped that employers attending the Fit for Life, Fit for Work, Fit for the Future conference next month will start to realise the benefits of having staff doing their jobs from home, reports local news provider the Journal.

Alan Hall director of EEF Northern, which is to stage the event, is quoted as saying: "This conference will demonstrate to employers and human resources professionals the entire spectrum of ways in which to build a happier, healthier workforce.

"It will also highlight the productivity benefits to the business and social benefits to the employee."

A report from the CNN news service recently suggested that home-based working gives employees the chance to recharge more effectively than when they work from a traditional office.