Working from home reduces stress in office workers, but leads to fears about career progression, according to new research.

Homeworkers say they benefit from lower levels of stress but fear that their careers may suffer, according to a survey of 749 staff in managerial or professional positions conducted by Durham Business School.

The survey found that while working from home had a positive effect on work-life balance, homeworkers worried about missing out on 'water-cooler networking' — where potential opportunities for moving up the ladder are discussed informally in the office.

Tom Redman, professor of human resource management at Durham Business School, says: "It seems at least for managerial and professional employees in knowledge-based industries that working from home is an antidote to the stresses of office-based working, but this may be at the expense of lower levels of support for career development."

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