The latest study, to be undertaken by the home-based PC and Internet benefit programmes provider, covers workers in the three main European countries of Britain, France and Germany. The research forms the basis for the company’s investigation into "the Digital Divide" and its impact in the workplace. The findings have been collected and released in PeoplePc’s report entitled "Mouse In The House."

The findings reveal that nearly half of the workforce in the three countries is worryingly stuck on the wrong side of "the Digital Divide." In this sense, thirty five million, out of more than 80 million workers across the three nations, do not have access to a computer or the Internet either at home or work. This total includes 10 million British workers.

Other key findings include:

• Nearly half (49%) of those who wanted their employer to supply a PC with Internet access would expect to use it for personal development.
  
• Among the third of British workers prepared to contribute to the cost of a company subsidised PC with Internet access and full technical support, two-fifths would pay more than £15 a month.
  
• Of those with PCs supplied by their employer, 73% said they were happy to work flexibly.
  
• With road and rail disruption much in the news in the UK, three in five British workers who have or would like an employer provided PC are prepared to work from home if their travel is disrupted. This compares with 41% in both France and Germany, where public transport is perhaps perceived to be more effective.
  
• More than half (64%) of workers who wanted their employer to provide a PC said the Government should encourage employer schemes to provide home technology for all.
  
• Some 21% of people managers identify IT illiteracy as a barrier to the introduction of e-business.
  
• Over one third said their companies might provide a home PC with Internet access for employees if there was Government backing for this scheme and/or tax incentives.