Working from home can offer a huge number of perks for employees, but when done correctly it can also be of benefit to employers.

Unfortunately, there is always a risk that things won't work out so well for one party or the other so it is important for workers and managers to keep tabs on things.

One area that has recently been flagged up as a potential pitfall for homeworkers is the fact that they might not be as likely to receive a promotion if they are not in the office a lot. A study published in the MIT Sloan Management Review found that office workers and bosses are heavily influenced by 'passive fact time', meaning that just showing your face in the office on a regular basis has an impact on how your work is viewed.

"To be credited with passive face time you need only observed at work. No information is required about what you are doing or how well you are doing it," the research noted.

There is another aspect to this in that those who are observed working outside of normal hours – early morning or during lunchtime for example – are around 25 per cent more likely to be thought of as 'committed' and 'dedicated'.

Obviously permanent homeworkers will be operating on a different basis. But those who pop into the office on occasion might want to keep in mind the fact that doing so can be beneficial to their career.