Up to five million workers across the UK are expected to shun their daily commute to the office next week in honour of National Work from Home Day.

The telecommuting 'day of action' on 15 May follows new TUC research which shows an increase of 600,000 in the number of home workers in the UK in the past decade.

Nearly 3.5 million people already work from home in the UK, according to TUC figures, making up 12.2 per cent of the working population.

The south west is home to the highest proportion of telecommuters at 15.7 per cent, followed by eastern England with 14.4 per cent. Workers in the North East are the least likely to work from home, accounting for just 9.3 per cent of employees.

"The benefits of working from home, even occasionally, are now widely accepted," said Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, the not-for-profit organisation behind the day of action.

"Not only does it reduce the amount of commuting people have to do, enhancing their work-life balance, but many are actually more productive.

"Although many organisations practise the age-old philosophy of 'presenteeism' they should open their eyes to the new work ethic spreading across the UK and try out home working. They may well be surprised."

Work Wise UK is offering guidance and assistance via its website and national network of advisers to help companies interested in adopting more flexible working practices.