Cancel all your holidays. Forget weekends and evenings. There is no escape from work in this new era of flexible working.

Being available 24 hours is fast becoming the only way to ensure a successful business, according to a report commissioned by BT Business.

The UK is lagging behind the rest of Europe when it comes to flexible working. Being flexible is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity, BT claims.

In today’s demanding and challenging business environment, customers need immediate answers to their queries and it should not matter whether you are on a train, plane, bus or relaxing on a beach ­ it is your duty to respond immediately.

I can understand demanding customers. We all like to have our problems answered quickly, particularly when we are paying for a service.

But I can also sympathise with the employees. Being available constantly during the working day is one thing, but answering calls and emails during time off and weekends? I find that a bit much.

Surely it is just as important to allow employees to enjoy their hard-earned time off.

Or do all firms dream of a workforce that is jaded, tired and disillusioned, with no clear line between the working day and private time?

So in protest, I’m off to book some holiday. My out of office reply will be activated and my work mobile will remain switched off.