Research undertaken by the BBC found that 43 of the 50 UK's biggest employers have stated that they do not plan to bring staff back to their offices full-time allowing their staff members to work from home two to three days a week.

This change to working patterns has been lauded by green activists who see it as a chance to keep emissions lower as the world reopens. The predicted change in commuter levels has also begun to influence multi-billion pound plans for roads and railways in the UK as they are plunged under review due to changes in travel pattern shifts.

Businesses such as cafes and restaurants that depend on custom from office workers would like to see a full return to office working patterns, when it's safe to do so, with some reporting an 80% drop in business when the work from home orders were issued.

Despite the predicted down turn in physical office hours only a few of the companies surveyed by the BBC have decided to shut offices. In fact some businesses, such as accounting software firm Sage, have moved forward with previous plans to open new offices believing that despite using a mix of home and office working going forward that physical office space will still be required.

The real effect of the pandemic on working shift patterns and corporate life won't be seen until after all restrictions around the country are lifted and life, for the most part, goes back to normal but it's clear that flexible working has been proven to more successful than previously thought over the last fourteen months.