A new survey reveals that the fringe benefits of working from home may override the desire for more money, with workers saying they’d opt for a pay cut to stay at home. In addition, telecommuters reported feeling happier, healthier, and “more balanced” with their lives.

According to a new small-scale survey by Staples Advantage, the business-to-business division of the international office supply company, of some 140 telecommuters from different industries, 40 percent of employees said they would take a pay cut to work from home, with 20 percent offering up 10 percent of their salary.

Reported in BusinessNewsDaily this month, at-home workers say they also feel more productive and better about their jobs. Telecommuters reported that the ultimate benefit of working from home was freedom, with survey respondents saying they’d swear off their favourite food (40 percent) and forgo an extra hour of sleep (54 percent) rather than go back to an office.

A US study published last year also suggests that telecommuting can not only increase efficiency of workers but boost their job satisfaction. While personal interaction with co-workers is a social benefit, the researchers noted that office politics can stress workers and reduce their performance.