Press & PR

People choosing to work from home may enjoy extra freedom and more flexibility, but a study has suggested that they are not paid the minimum wage.

According to the BBC, a report from the National Group on Homeworking (NGH) claims that more than half of homeworkers receive an hourly rate of less than £5.52, the current legal minimum.

Peter Williams a labour consultant at the Ethical Trade Initiative told the BBC: "The National Minimum Wage isn't really being enforced.

"There isn't a minimum wage inspectorate and because there isn't any real penalty for underpayment of the minimum wage, it really gives a green light for employers who are less scrupulous to exploit their workers."

Although the NGH report suggests homeworkers are poorly paid, the survey includes the large numbers of homeworkers signed up on short-term contracts in the run-up to Christmas.

Professionals who choose to work from home should receive a normal wage packet while also enjoying the benefits of a flexible working style by using VoIP communications to keep in touch with the office.



VoIP service providers such as Vonage can offer cheaper calls than normal landline rates, with unlimited UK and Ireland calls available on the V-Plan 1 for £5.99 a month.

But VoIP can also benefit business travellers, as a Vonage customer could take their UK landline with them on a business trip to the US simply by packing the small and lightweight phone adaptor - allowing them to use make unlimited free calls within the US and back to the UK using their normal number for just £7.99 per month on V-Plan 2.