Over a quarter of UK workers will not work a conventional working week in just five years time, according to a survey of flexible workers.

The poll by online community Workology found that the main benefits enjoyed by flexible workers were controlling where and when they worked, cited by 49%, escaping the ‘rat race' (35%) and having more time to pursue other interests (30%).

The vast majority have seen a big improvement in their work/life balance with 43% saying flexible working had improved it ‘a lot' and 32% saying it had done so ‘enormously'. Just 4% believe they have not seen an improvement since opting out of the nine-to-five corporate environment.

It also found that nearly two-thirds (62%) had a comparable or higher income than when they worked in a full-time job or corporate environment. Over half (56%) lost their initial anxieties about moving to self-employment within six months while 75% had lost their inhibitions after a year.

"This survey confirms what I'm encountering more frequently among coaching clients," said Emily Stokes Hotchkiss, a life coach and expert on the psychology of flexible working.

"It seems we're approaching a tipping point with growing numbers of people moving away from traditional employment, towards freelancing and self-employment.

"As more people see their peers enjoying greater choice about when and where they work, I expect to see increasing numbers of professionals taking the plunge."

"We are entering the next stage in the evolution of work," added Sam Gyimah, managing director, Workology. "The internet and high broadband penetration is steadily putting paid to the traditional working week and it won't be long before flexible working becomes the norm.

"Figures from the Professional Contractors Group say that as much as 40% of the UK workforce will be freelance by 2010."

But flexible working does not necessarily involve working fewer hours: 32% of those polled worked between 41 and 50 hours a week and 30% worked more than 50 hours.

And 57% admitted they missed the infrastructure and support provided by corporate life, and found it difficult to know how to access to find the support they needed when leaving this environment.