Working from home is proving to be a revolution in our way of life | Larry Elliott

The repercussions are everywhere, from reduced retail footfall to losses at train companies

It took time, but the Industrial Revolution profoundly changed the way people worked. Out went cottage industries and in came giant factories. People migrated from rural areas to the cities.

Gradually, as economies became more service-sector driven, the big factory was replaced by the big office, but the principle remained the same: employees left their home in the morning for their place of work and returned in the evening.