UK employers are not offering workers sufficient opportunity to work remotely - despite the fact that they have the technology and the infrastructure to implement such practices, a new report states.

A study from the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) revealed that the UK is lagging behind rival European countries when it comes to offering flexible working - with only 20 per cent of British employers offering tele-working compared to around 40 per cent in Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

And while 90 per cent of Swedish and German companies offer flexi-time, only 48 per cent of UK businesses do the same thing.

The EOC will today ask political parties, employers and the government to launch a new culture of work that provides a more flexible environment for the 29 million workers.

"From the factory floor to Canary Wharf, everyone can benefit from new a culture of flexible work," Jenny Watson, chair of the EOC, commented.

"Trailblazing employers are offering a wide range of work options, such as tele-working, shift-swapping and interim management.

"In return, they are reporting increased productivity, improved staff engagement, and are better placed to deal with customer needs. But the reality for the majority of British workers is still presenteeism and long hours. The time has now come for this innovation to spread to across the workforce to reach the UK's 29 million workers."