Allowing employees to work from home as part of a flexible benefits package can be financially advantageous to businesses, it has been claimed.

Firms in both the public and private sector may find their staff more engaged when home-working, according to the Telework Association.

The organisation’s research has shown that workers are “significantly more productive” outside of a “noisy, open-plan office”.

Peter Thomson, director of research at the association, highlighted the customer service advantages flexible benefits can provide.

He explained: “A lot of businesses now are running almost 24/7 extended hours for their customers, so you need your employees to be more flexible.”

Workers can provide services at a time the customer wants to be served, he added.