In an ideal world it would be a choice for the employee. Can only speak from personal experience but it's been a bit of a mixed bag. 1 or 2 love it, 1 or 2 really have struggled and the rest see it as a means to an end but are looking forward to coming back in next year. Theres been no upshot, on the whole regarding productivity or a decrease in absence rates (despite an initial drop around May, June).