Hundreds of workers at internet search giant Yahoo may be searching for a new job. New CEO Marissa Mayer is eliminating the telecommuting option, an arrangement that allowed Yahoo employees to work from home.
In a memo obtained by AllThingsD, Yahoo’s Human Resources chief Jackie Reses wrote “To become the absolute best place to work, communication and collaboration will be important, so we need to be working side-by-side. That is why it is critical that we are all present in our offices. Some of the best decisions and insights come from hallway and cafeteria discussions, meeting new people, and impromptu team meetings. Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home. We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together.”
The new policy, which will take effect in June, has sparked intense debate, especially on Twitter. AllThingsD reports several hundred employees will be affected by the move. But the policy will also apply to staffers who work from home one or two days a week as well. Workers who don’t comply will be out of a job.
Yahoo isn’t commenting on the policy change, only saying “We don’t comment on rumors, speculation or internal matters.”
According to Global Workplace Analytics, 3.1 million people, or 2.5% of the U.S. workforce telecommutes.
John Wilson