A survey of key workplace trends by the CBI and leading recruitment experts Harvey Nash showed almost two thirds of employers have made or are considering making significant changes to the way they organise their workforce and working patterns.

More flexible working hours, extended shut-downs, extra holiday and cuts in paid overtime have all become more commonplace as the recession has deepened and firms have become determined to cut costs.

John Cridland, CBI deputy director-general, said: "This has been a particularly bruising recession, but one of its most positive and striking aspects has been the commitment of many businesses and their staff to work together to try to trim costs and save jobs."

Read more here.

Download a pdf of the report.

Listen: Rob Don (right), CBI senior employment policy adviser talks about the importance of the work patterns in the recession survey