Most employers 'lack flexibility'

Around seven in ten employers only rarely approve work from home requests despite recent law changes, a survey has shown.

Personnel Today reports research indicates 69 per cent of bosses never or only occasionally grant work from home requests.

The figures, from a survey produced by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), go against a government emphasis on flexible working.

Quoted by the magazine, CIPD policy adviser Gerwyn Davies said: "Inflexible approaches to homeworking risk restricting the competitiveness and growth of UK organisations if employer and managerial mindsets do not change."

According to the survey, only eight per cent of employers believe homeworkers are less productive than their office-based colleagues.

Earlier this month the CIPD released the results of a study of seven blue-chip firms, which showed most thought flexible working had a positive impact on employee performance.

The earlier report also said working from home could help to manage worker stress levels, although the practice reportedly became a source of stress itself.