Homework set to increase

Up to a quarter of the UK working population could be carrying out employment duties from their homes by 2020, it has been claimed. According to insurance firm Aviva, workplace trends are changing and people are increasingly seeking to embrace non-standard work patterns as they seek an improved work-life balance. Consequently, the number of people engaging in "smart working" is set to rise significantly from the current figure of one million in the UK, it is claimed.

Julie Fromant, home lifestyle manager at Aviva UK said: "The work landscape is constantly changing and a quarter of the population is expected to work from home at least once a week by 2020. Mums and dads choosing to work flexi hours, the growing number of freelancers and higher levels of redundancy all mean that home working has become a real alternative to the corporate office."

Moneysupermarket.com editor Clare Francis claimed this week that home workers should keep their office separate from the rest of their house. She suggested allocating a room for use solely as a study or office, in order to prevent work encroaching too much into the personal lives of individuals.

This is a subject that is set to run and run but those who embrace the new employment style and practices will gain most in the long term.

Gareth