An Acas Workplace Snippets article highlights that the recent extension to all employees of the right to request flexible working can be seen as the latest development in a much larger change in workplace dynamics that is redrawing the traditional boundaries between home and work. Nearly one in seven UK workers now works from home for at least half of their working time. That's 4.2 million people – the highest rate since comparable records began in 1998, when there were around 2.9 million homeworkers. This can be attributed to it being easier for employees to request flexible working, new technology enabling many roles to be performed outside of the workplace and the rising cost of commuting. Acas has published ‘Homeworking – a guide for employers and employees’, which outlines the employment rights and relations issues involved.

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