Despite the potential for greater workforce productivity, many business bosses in the UK are unclear about how allowing flexible working can be a positive step for their company, it has been revealed.
A study by Investors in People concludes that companies across Britain could be doing more to ensure the wellbeing of their staff and points to flexible working practices as one way in which this can be achieved.
Furthermore, the research found that 24 per cent of UK firms do not make any effort to improve employee wellbeing because they do not know how they can help.
"Our research shows that employees actually want better support and development structures to create a healthier environment – and managers should take heed," said Simon Jones, acting chief executive at Investors in People.
"The bottom line is that an unhealthy, unhappy workforce will also be uncommitted and unproductive," he added.
Allowing staff to work from home is an effective way for employers to cut down on the number of stress-related sick days taken by their employees, which affected around 420,000 people in the UK during 2005-06, according to the Health and Safety Executive.
