Predicted: 12 million homeworkers by 2020

Vomiting executives is a growing workplace phenomena, according to Standard Life Bank. Research into workplace trends for the bank, found middle managers aged 45 and over responding to changing work practices with symptoms including vomiting, nausea, panic and fear.

But the report, Freestylers and work, also predicts that 'demuting' will be the next big trend, with an anticipated 12 million people working from home by 2020. 'The house will over the next 15 years become the focus of most people's working lives' it suggests.

The growth of the home office means increased flexibility and a complete change in how and when we work, the report says. Researching the claims, forecasters the Future Laboratory studied shifts in the way people are living and working. And it found challenges as well as benefits.

'We increasingly favour more flexible, personal and irregular ways of doing our work yet 72% of employees believe their employers are distrustful of people who say they are working from home,' they note.

The report predicts a rise of 'keyboard corporations', with global businesses run from small live/work spaces, and 'techvilles and cluster communities' developed around hubs or even streets 'where like-minded professionals choose to live and work'.

'Think Hoxton and graphics, Cornwall and marketing creativity, Cambridge and biotech, the Scottish glens and software gaming,' the report says.

Ashley Ramsay, Standard Life Bank marketing manager, commented: 'With 8 million Brits working from home and a further 2 million spending at least one day a week there... the house is set to become the focus of our corporate, career and creative energies.'

Other key findings:

• 74% of those surveyed believe flexible work patterns and the rise of home businesses are most likely to revive home communities
• 61% believe the shift will make larger communities and cities more 'personal' and 'people-friendly'

Source: Standard Life Bank and the Future Laboratory