The workers at US small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are keen to use IT technology to allow them greater flexibility in their working practises, a new study suggests.

According to Microsoft, 77 per cent of US office workers said that they would like to shift their office hours or even work remotely.

Workers also believe that new computing technology will make it easier for them to achieve flexible working practises - 87 per cent of people were optimistic about how future IT technology would impact on their work.

"Even once the technology is in place, employers are often not as excited about flexi-time arrangements as employees, but they should be," explained Patricia Roehling, a professor of psychology at Hope College.

"Studies have found that between 75 and 85 per cent of workers were more productive when working in a flexible environment, and that employers can trim absenteeism by 60 per cent."

A recent study from BT Business found that 82 per cent of the owners of UK SMEs believed that broadband access had helped them improve their work-life balance.