Loft conversions are often used for additional bedrooms. But there could be a change in the family home as our working lives get ever closer to home. More people are seeking dedicated home offices as flexible working and remote working practices become increasingly common. Legislation introduced in 2003 allowed parents with children under the age of six to request flexible working; employers were advised they could only reject a request if there were good business reasons for doing so. And now millions more parents will be eligible to make the same request from their employers as the legislation was amended in April 2009 to include parents with children up to the age of 16.

 

 

It's a dramatic change in employment legislation. Home offices have long been increasingly important to many homeworkers – not just those who negotiate to work from home a few days a week or even full time. Those who are self employed and who work from home, know how crucial a dedicated working space is. More loft conversions could be used to create home offices to help accommodate this change in the way we work.

Minister for women and equality, Harriet Harman told the press the change in the legislation was crucial because children don't suddenly stop needing their parents when they hit the age of six. She told the Guardian: “As any parent knows, older children going through the teenage years need just as much support and guidance. Mothers often tear their hair out trying to balance earning a living with bringing up their children and need more flexibility at work. And fathers want to be able to play a bigger part in bringing up their children.”

 

Flexible working can include changing the hours of work, working part-time, job-sharing and working from home. The advance of technology means home working has never been easier. But working from home should be treated as professionally as working in an office. Ergonomics, as well as dedicated space is crucial for an employee's welfare. Loft conversions are ideal for a home office because they not only offer a dedicated space but lofts are somewhat separated from the rest of the family home. Having a staircase up to a dedicated office loft has a psychological as well as physical effect, allowing homeworkers to separate easily home life from working life. There's nothing worse than claiming a little space in a lounge, kitchen or bedroom to set up an office – it can ruin the feelings associated with those rooms as places to unwind, relax and escape. A loft conversion ensures you can mentally 'go to work' even if you are at home.

 

 

Homeworkers are said to be more productive than office-based workers. Research shows that the average home worker spends seven hours a day working, with 15% working a dedicated ten hours a day. National Work from Home Day who did the survey found homeworkers felt there were fewer distractions at home with two-thirds working extra hard to prove they weren't just sat watching daytime TV. The questionnaire also discovered that 69% of workers would work from home given the choice – and with the new legislation in flexible working, there could be a bigger demand for loft conversions to create a dedicated home office space. Around 12% of employees in the UK work from home – around 3.4 million people. Work Wise UK, who initiated the National Work from Home Day, say home working can enhance the work-life balance and improve productivity. The benefits include no commuting (also good for the environment). Chief executive of Work Wise, Phil Flaxton said in a press release that home working was a 'win-win situation' with no downside. But anyone who has tried to set up an office hunched over the kitchen table will know there are downsides – if you do opt to embrace the home working lifestyle, it's important you create a dedicated home office.