The increasing availability of high-speed internet connections has made working from home easier than ever for employees in the US, according to reports.

A range of reasons, from aiming to help the environment, to wanting a better work-life balance, are leading to more demand for home-based working and the latest communication technologies are making this possible, suggests Maria Ferris, director of workforce diversity at IBM.

"Most jobs can be done remotely, but you need to think about how you will get your job done and provide service to your customer," Ms Ferris told the Journal News.

"People who work from home tend to be more satisfied. They tell us they are more productive and committed," she added.

And the New York news service insists that working from home is becoming increasingly accepted as a worthwhile practice among employees at IBM, citing the company’s own statistics.

Work Wise UK, the not-for-profit group aiming to promote "smarter working", maintains that home-based operating can benefit "business, employees and the country as a whole".