Today (May 18) is the second annual National Work from Home Day. Millions of workers around the UK will be experiencing the benefits of working from their home.

Not only will they have avoided the fight through over-crowded public transport or frustration sitting in traffic jams, but they will have saved a few hours in time and been able to start work un-flustered and un-stressed.
 
Working from home, even occasionally, would greatly enhance people's work-life balance, and improve employee relations. The reduction in commuting alone could save people several hours per day, freeing up time to spend at home with the family or on leisure activities. British workers spend by far the longest time travelling in Europe - as much as 47 working days per year (Samsung research 2004).
 
Even a small proportion of the workforce working from home occasionally will have a profound effect. Reductions in traffic volumes and passenger numbers on public transport will result in less congestion and overcrowding, making travel a more bearable chore for people who have no choice but to travel. Less travel also means less pollution and CO2 emissions.

The savings are not only in time and travel, but also in cash: apart from the travel fares saved, there is the cappuccino and Danish on the way to the office, lunch in the pub and, for some, congestion charges and parking.

Working from home is a growing phenomenon. According to the Labour Force Survey, undertaken quarterly by the Office for National Statistics, over 3.4 million people, 12 per cent of the working population, regularly or permanently work from home. In the last ten years, that figure has increased by a fifth - more than half a million additional people now work from home.

The highest proportion of home workers is in the South East (excluding London) with nearly 15 per cent. Scotland has the lowest proportion in the UK with 8.5 per cent.

Click here for regional breakdown of home working figures.
Click here for information about smarter working and taking part in Natonal Work From Home Day.
Click here for the National Work From Home news release.