A new research has disclosed that flexible working hours might boost employees' physical condition, comprising their BP level, sleep patterns and mental condition.

Policemen, who rescheduled work timings, significantly bettered psychological health as compared to peers who commenced work at a fixed time.

Clare Bambra of the Wolfson Research Institute, Durham University, who led the study, part of the Cochrane Systematic Review, said, "Flexible working seems to be more beneficial for health and wellbeing where the individuals control their own work patterns."

The research may throw some light on such possible benefits associated with more flexible working hours.

In Scandinavian nations, such arrangements are ordinary

In the year 2009, the British administration extended an earlier piece of legislation letting parents with kids aged under 16, to demand flexible hours.

The Cochrane Systematic Review comprised 10 researches involving 16,603 people that concentrated on different forms of flexible working.

"Given the limited evidence base, we wouldn't want to make any hard and fast recommendations, but these findings certainly give employers and employees something to think about," Bambra said. (With Input from Agencies)