British firms could reduce employee illness losses through more home working this winter

Study shows that two in three British people would work from home when illness prevented them commuting

Workers say commuting exposes them to germs, while home working would make them healthier.

Two in three UK workers would be happy to work from home on days when they felt too ill to travel into the office, according to a study* by ntl:Telewest Business, part of the Virgin Media Group. Yet the willingness lessened with age, with just 34 per cent of 55 to 64 year-olds prepared to home work when minor illness prevented office attendance, compared to 71 per cent of 16 to 24 year-olds and 69 per cent of 35 to 44 year-olds.

The poll also found that 39 per cent of employees said less commuting would make them healthier as theyíd be exposed to fewer germs in the office and while in transit.

ìThe onset of winter always increases the amount of colds and other minor illnesses, but more flexible working practices can help employer and employee,î said Stephen Beynon, MD, ntl:Telewest Business. ìOf course no-one should work when theyíre too ill to do so, but itís highly likely that the UK loses millions of pounds every year through sick days taken when people are too ill to travel, rather than necessarily too ill to work.

ìEqually, sick workers soldiering on and coming into the office can spread more germs, which can also take a toll on productivity. Increasing the ability to work from home offers employers the opportunity to reduce the productivity impact of sick days when staff are not up to traveling,î he said.

* GFK NOP questioned 1,000 representative people aged 16 nation-wide on behalf of ntl:Telewest Business.