Ten per cent of FTSE 100 offices to be emptied by 2020

One in ten FTSE 100 companies won't have an office by 2020 as they increasingly depend on mobile or home workers to run their businesses.

The claim comes from Graeme Leach, chief economist of the Institute of Directors in his latest report, published today by recruitment firm, Kelly Services. The 'Tomorrow's Work' report also claims the rise in remote working technology will see an end to the traditional hours of 9am to 5pm, as people are increasingly able to fit their work around their leisure lifestyles. Only 20 per cent of staff will actually work these hours by 2020, it claims. Real face-to-face meetings will become a rarity as conferencing technology improves, and there will be increasing demand for large, high-tech houses to handle the shift towards homeworking. Companies are already embracing the changes, the report claims, with two thirds of companies surveyed saying technology has helped boost the skills of their employees. The report is based on interviews with 1,500 UK workers, and 150 companies. For more information, contact Kelly Services at communications@kellyservices.co.uk.