Millions of working fathers are keen to spend more time at home with their children and would welcome the flexibility that would allow them to do so, according to a new study from the US.

Figures compiled by Harris Interactive for CareerBuilder.com show that 38 per cent of employed fathers would happily take a pay cut to achieve a better work-life balance and have the chance to spend more time with their sons or daughters.

And 36 per cent of those polled indicated that their employer does not currently have flexible working practices in place that might enable them to operate from home or to work fewer hours each week.

Furthermore, the Working Dads 2007 survey established that close to one-quarter (24 per cent) of working fathers feel the lack of time they are able to spend with their children is having a negative impact on their relationship with them.

A number of leading business bosses told a seminar event in Hong Kong recently that enabling people to work from home and under more flexible circumstances is becoming an increasingly important way to boost staff morale and productivity.