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Coventry University research contributes to key Government report examining home working
Dr Christine Grant
University news
Thursday 27 November 2025
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A new House of Lords report recognising the role home working could play in helping people get back into work has been welcomed by a Coventry University researcher.
Dr Christine Grant, who presented her research on home working and its effectiveness in supporting disabled and/or neurodivergent people to remain in employment, to a Select Committee last year, is featured in the new report.
Entitled Is Working from Home Working? The report looks into whether home working could support the Government’s plans to get people back into employment by enabling people to work who otherwise might not be able to do so.
Dr Grant, from Coventry University’s Research Centre for Healthcare and Communities, has conducted significant research into how home working arrangements for those with disabilities can have an overwhelmingly positive impact. She has also designed a manager’s toolkit, providing advice on how line managers can have supportive conversations with employees about home working.
The need for more manager training is reflected within the report with a key recommendation being that the Government should encourage and incentivise employers to invest in management training to support effective remote and hybrid working.
It also urges the Government to set out whether remote and hybrid working are being considered as part of existing initiatives to support people with disabilities and long-term health conditions back into work.
Dr Grant’s view that there is no one-size-fits all answer to the question of working from home and productivity which is similarly acknowledged within the report’s findings.
Overall I’m really pleased with the committee’s recommendations, they have recognised the benefits home working can have, particularly for those with disabilities. What’s also significant is they seem to have taken on my feedback that there is no one -size fits all solution for employers and that there needs to be a tailored approach involving employees and their managers about what’s best for the individual.
I’m pleased at the recommendation that there needs to be more guidance and support available to managers in having these conversations with their employees, which is what my toolkit is all about. Remote working is not just a convenience; it’s a lifeline for many people. But it only works well when managers are equipped to lead inclusively and build trust in virtual teams.
There is still a very polarised debate around home working in the UK, but I feel the report itself is very balanced. Home and hybrid working isn’t possible for everyone, but in many cases it can support people’s wellbeing, and can help people get back into and stay in employment. I hope this report opens up the debate in this area.
Dr Christine Grant
Dr Grant’s research has been funded by the ESRC Centre for Digital Futures at Work (see below).
Read the full report.
As part of the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre (Digit), this work was supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council [grant number ES/S012532/1], which is gratefully acknowledged.
We gratefully acknowledge the receipt of funding from Coventry University's ESRC Impact Acceleration Account in supporting this resource
