In the wake of calls from Conservative Party leader David Cameron and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to extent the prevalence of flexible working habits, a leading recruitment firm boss has suggested that awareness is the key to making this happen.

Adecco UK and Ireland’s chief executive Rene Schuster has suggested that information on the impact of working from home or at different times should be provided to both employees and companies around the country.

Government regulations obliging businesses to allow for flexible working practices would not be a welcome action and it is always in an employer’s best interest to maintain a motivated workforce, Mr Schuster told the online recruitment service onrec.com.

"Education and awareness of the benefits, and potential problems, for both parties is key to ensuring that UK businesses successfully increase the availability of flexible working," he said.

"To achieve this, businesses, the government and the recruitment industry all have major roles to play."

Last week, a report from the EOC described the trend towards flexible working in the UK as a "social and economic imperative".