An increased level of productivity is rated as the most significant benefit home-based workers can offer businesses in the UK, according to research from the human resources firm Ceridian.

There were more benefits than drawbacks to enabling staff to operate from their home and particularly when it comes to so-called "project work", a survey of around 100 British company bosses has found.

Increased commitment from staff and an enhanced skill retention capacity was rated second in the list of advantages offered by having a more flexible workforce, while higher staff morale came in third.

Penny de Valk, strategy director at Ceridian in the UK, commented: "Home working is a powerful retention tool, and when both employee and employer take responsibility for making it work, it can have a major impact on both productivity and employee engagement."

Last week, companies around the country took part in the second annual Work From Home Day, which was organised by Work Wise UK and aimed to promote the potential benefits that can be leveraged through a more flexible workforce.