Almost three-quarters of Britons consider flexible working practices to be a key factor when deciding on a new job, according to a new survey.
The Microsoft-commissioned research also showed that more than half of all workers think they would be less stressed if they were able to engage in remote working practices.
However, a quarter of young workers aged between 16 and 24 said they thought that flexible working is viewed in a negative light by employers.
The study also revealed regional differences in the uptake of flexible working; while half of all Londoners are able to work remotely, less than a third of workers in the north-west do so.
"There appears to remain a north-south divide in terms of attitudes towards mobile working. If British businesses are to address the productivity gap between themselves and the leading western economies, these challenges must be solved," commented Alex Reeve, UK director for Microsoft Mobile Communications Business.
Microsoft commissioned the research to support the People Moving Business Awards, working in partnership with the Chartered Management Institute, Business Link and Management Today.
A recent survey by the British Chambers of Commerce revealed that nearly 90 per cent of UK businesses offer flexible working arrangements for their staff.
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