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Written Evidence for the Government's Home Based Working Enquiry

Summary

This submission to the House of Lords inquiry on home-based working draws on four years of research across five countries. Focusing on households where multiple members work remotely while managing childcare, the authors highlight both the challenges—such as space constraints, digital overload, and increased domestic labour—and the benefits, including reduced commuting stress, more family time, and financial savings. Families showed resilience by adapting their routines, spaces, and responsibilities, often without institutional support.

The authors argue that policy should treat the household, not just the individual, as the unit of support. They recommend practical resources for managing shared work-life demands, training for employees and managers, and incentives for flexible, care-sensitive working. Drawing on international examples, the report calls for government action to make home-based work more equitable, sustainable, and reflective of everyday family life.