Introducing home-based working practices can help businesses of all sizes meet the demands of mothers as they look to balance their private and professional lives, a new report has made clear.

Earlier this year, new maternity leave legislation was introduced in the UK, but many British businesses are not yet taking advantage of home-based working as a way to help mothers restart their careers, according to Citrix Online.

In fact, research carried out by the company recently showed that only three-quarters of large firms and 43 per cent of smaller businesses in the UK are currently able to offer mothers home-based working options.

"Statutory maternity pay is fully funded by the government and businesses must recognise that giving flexibility to working parents will be rewarded with commitment and loyalty," Denise Tyler, editor of Mother@Work.

"By adopting progressive flexible-working policies, companies can make it easier for new mothers to return to work and therefore help reduce this loss of talent from their workforce."

A study carried out by ntl:Telewest last month showed that the majority of Britons back the environmentally-friendly reasons for working from home.