Conservative party leader David Cameron said at the launch of the EOC report that flexible working was good for companies, the economy and society as a whole.

Alan Townsend, the chief operating officer of Monster.co.uk, suggested that more needed to be done to encourage flexible working.

“For parents struggling to cope with the demands of a job and children it can free up a precious few extra hours to get those vital jobs done,” he explained.

“From an employer’s point of view a happy, less stressed employee can only be a good thing and will encourage company loyalty, plus there are considerable benefits around productivity levels.”

Martin Huckle