Falling technology costs 'should boost home working'

The increasing affordability of high-speed broadband, computers and telephony systems such as VoIP is removing the barriers many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have faced in adopting flexible working, an expert has claimed.

Virgin Media Business executive director Andrew McGrath said the high costs associated with offering this option just a few years ago are now "thing of the past".

He was commenting after a survey by the firm showed 14 per cent of SMBs currently offer flexible working.

Of these, almost one in five (19 per cent) said it had boosted the productivity of their staff and 21 per cent claimed it had made it easier to deal with issues outside of normal business hours.

Another 42 per cent thought it had improved the work-life balance of their personnel and helped them to hang on to key performers.

In September, employment relations minister Ed Davey announced government plans to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees with children under the age of 18 from next April.