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Flexitime and home working could be lost in the recession despite there being mutual gains for staff and employers, according to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

Paul Sellers, working time policy adviser for the organisation, says many firms see flexible working practices as an 'add on' which can be revoked in difficult times.

However, he states firms should not be so quick to reject the idea as it can benefit staff by saving them time and money in commuting.

Sellers says it is not just workers who stand to gain from the move, as businesses can improve certain personnel areas through it.

'If you let staff work from home and you manage them properly, you clear up quite a bit of office space which is expensive in city centres,' he adds.

Regarding travelling to work, the expert says when choosing between jobs many employees would rather spend longer on their journey to work than take a pay cut in the current climate.

TUC research found UK workers commute for an average of 54 minutes per day.

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