Framingham, Mass. — July 19

Want happier, loyal and more productive employees? Send them home.

According to a recent survey from Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples Inc., telecommuters say they feel and work better when working from home. In fact, 86 percent of telecommuters say they are more productive in their home office.

Telecommuters say they are:

• Happier and healthier — When asked to draw comparisons, telecommuters say their stress levels have dropped 25 percent on average since working from home. Seventy-three percent even say they eat healthier when working from home.

• More loyal — Without the trek to the office — on average, a 75-mile round-trip for respondents — 76 percent of telecommuters are more willing to put in extra time on work and say they are more loyal to their company since telecommuting.

• Better balanced — More than 80 percent say they now maintain a better work-life balance.

Considering these benefits, it’s no wonder the number of telecommuters is on the rise — expected to reach 63 million in the U.S. by 2016, according to a March 2009 report, “U.S. Telecommuting Forecast, 2009 to 2016,” from Forrester Research Inc.

Source: Staples Advantage