There are 374,000 more employees working from home than 10 years ago, new TUC analysis recently published to mark Work Wise UK's National Work from Home Day shows.

The analysis shows a 27.7% increase in the number of homeworkers in the last decade.

But not enough bosses are giving their workers the option of homeworking, which could help people to see more of their family and improve work-life balance.

The TUC estimates that around 4 million more UK workers would like to work from home for at least some of their working week but aren't given the chance and is calling for a right to positive flexible working from day one of your job, with employers required to advertise all jobs on that basis.

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

"In many cases, homeworking is a win-win-win. Workers get more time with their families, employers can boost productivity and hang on to experienced staff, and the environment benefits as well.

"But too many employers are clinging to tradition, or don't trust their staff enough to encourage homeworking. They need to catch up.

"Unions can help negotiate home working policies that work positively for both employers and staff. And government should be investing in broadband infrastructure so that every worker can get a high-speed connection at home."

Chief Executive of Work Wise UK, the organiser of National Work from Home Day, Phil Flaxton said:

"Whilst it is encouraging to see a significant increase in the number of employees working from home there still needs to be a cultural shift for it to be accepted more widely.

"Attitudes are changing on how we balance or mix work and lifestyle.

Increasing mobility and technology is shifting the acceptance or need for traditional 9-5 work patterns, to be replaced by a more flexible approach to the working week and this trend will continue as more of us embrace new, smarter ways of working such as working from home.

"More employers need to realise the tangible benefits of changing outdated working practices to reflect the connected world in which we live. These include, increased productivity, staff retention, less absenteeism and employee burnout.

"The business case is sound, and it really can be a win-win for all concerned."