Two more surveys on home working in the Netherlands again demonstrate that the practice is likely to continue once the coronavirus pandemic is under control, with the support of both employers and members of staff.

One survey, carried out among 1,100 employers who have more than 100 workers, shows that 41% plan to improve the opportunities to work from home and 32% plan to increase or introduce expenses for workers who do so.

Some 45% also plan to invest more in online meetings and 26% are investing in more flexible working hours.

Infrastructure minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, who commissioned that research said the results are ‘good news’ because of the likely impact on commuting times and traffic congestion.

The government’s socio-cultural think-tank SCP also published a report on home working on Wednesday which showed working at home allowed people to better balance their working times against their home situation.

However, stimulating more home working is unlikely to encourage more young mothers to work because they had not seen any improvement in their work-life balance, the SCP said.

This may be because they are less likely to be able to work undisturbed by their children than young fathers, the SCP said.

Previous surveys have shown that while employers support home working, they do not want to see it enshrined as a right in law.

And the FNV trade union federation reported that just 10% of its members who work in the financial sector, business services and the civil service want to return to the office full time and 20% want to work permanently at home.