The first survey of teleworking in large Irish companies has revealed Ireland seriously lags its European counterparts in flexible work practices, with only 4.3 per cent of the workforce in medium to large companies teleworking. The survey data has been released by the Work Research Centre to coincide with European Telework week from next Monday. On a more optimistic note, the research found the relatively low figure could double within two years. Of 165 companies with workforces of more than 100 people, teleworking in its conventional sense - working from home or between home and the office - hardly figured in the employment profile. Of more significance were mobile workers and staff who worked from clients' premises - 2.6 and 1.3 per cent of the workforce respectively.

Six per cent of those questioned, already had a formal telework policy in place, with the same number again expecting to have one in place within two years. A further 12 per cent of the sample stated their intention to implement a telework policy but would not commit to a timeframe.