Allowing staff to work from home is becoming increasingly common among companies of all sizes in Canada, it has been claimed.

Smaller firms in Canada tend to be more informal when it comes to teleworking, whereas larger companies typically bring in more structured programmes with the aim of utilising home-based staff, according to a report from itbusiness.ca.

Bob Fortier, president of the teleworking consulting group InnoVisions Canada, told the news service that for businesses of all sizes management reluctance remains a significant barrier to the widespread introduction of homeworking practices.

"We have the technology now that enables us as Canadians to conduct more of the types of transactions that used to require face to face contact," explained Mr Fortier.

But there are some "managers from the Jurassic era who prefer to have the troops circle the wagons or who have attitudes that are overly prudent," he continued.

InnoVisions Canada counts the Ontario government, Sun Media and Bell Canada among a list of organisations that have taken advantage of its teleworking expertise.