to reel in all of her telecommuters. Did she see a lack of motivation in
achieving above standard work from a more relaxed environment? Was it the over
zealous efforts of a female executive trying to stake her claim in a still male
dominated org chart landscape? After all, the same opposing missiles would be
aimed at whichever gender base yielded the less than favorable decision.
The topic doesn't need a name or face. Pressing is the question of why such a
drastic measure was taken in the first place. Any number of things behind the
firewall could have triggered it. What we know for sure is that by early summer
2013 the mentality of all ashore that's going ashore will be the new addendum
and the ship may sail without many of it's crew members.
For the foreseeable future at least, Yahoo's work from home allowance is no
longer the mainstay. The dynamics have changed at least for now. But, did CEO
Marissa Mayer get it right? Maybe. The underlying reasons may not be as
transparent as removing those less motivated individuals from the ranks. From
the message boards sprout righteous indignation, complaints of micro-managing
and cut-backs as the target. That is the media cooler version.
However, according to Forbes magazine, the 37 year-old Meyer, who made the
diamond-cut list of successful corporate raiders, utilized data analytics in
reaching her decision to ban telecommuting. Prior to Yahoo she left Google on a
strong career high note, making her and her new employer's agendized wish list
abundantly clear: strengthening Yahoo's franchise in email, finance and sports.
As if that wasn't enough star power, her priors included assisting in taming the
shrew, namely, joining Walmart's corporate board in 2012. Whipping up a batch of
mighty changes before briskly entering the rank and file of the aforementioned
Google, which gave her the force, courage and stamina to rule as Yahoo's current
lion king.
This is some of what we know about Meyer..and bravo by the way. But does her
wielding a mighty blow of her scepter against telecommuting segments mean
curtains for the rest of us who heavily rely on it? Not one bit. Before we pick
up the proverbial picket signs and create another movement. Take a look at a few
of the positive aspects of working from home for the average entrepreneur and
why, try as they might, naysayers cannot rule out the masses of successful stay
at home workers as an
Building Confidence In Creating Your Career Your Way-The framework
of terms in the workplace are set and applied per your standards, your efforts.
No answering to someone else and having the frustration of having to go along
for the ride when you didn't want to be a passenger on any level. If you like
red pens, use them.
Childcare-Parents can spend up to a mind-blowing 40% of their monthly
wages on childcare. Not to mention the gas, time and effort to get them there in
the first place.
Child Rearing and Bonding-To further the point, Dr Laura in a
December 5, 2012 blog entitled, "Day Cares Don't Care", she remarked that even
the best facility cannot provide what your child needs most: one-on-one
nurturing, loving time, which is crucial for their well-being and development.
Spending countless hours away from home only to make it in time with the cool
brevity of a pat on the for a good night well-wish is simply not enough.
Scheduling Is In The Palm Of Your Hands-No you don't have to attend
the mundane weekly staff meeting where everyone knows your name but yet, never
quite gets why they are in the room. The routine never gets any better either,
no matter how many donuts they let you eat. Instead, since you are the boss, you
make the call on where and when to time manage.
Personal Space-Not having to share a cubicle or the internal wars
over who gets the conference room after discovering that it was
overbooked..again. Or being bumped because you are not as important or didn't
have the same connections as you fellow workmate who seems to surprisingly get
his requests met each and every time.
Saving Against Rising Fuel Costs-Pain at the pump is more incentive
to park it.
Budgeting-How often did you suck your teeth when all you wanted for
the new year was a desk calendar? Right? Now you can find the best options for
all the supplies you need and be happy about the end result and not just the
bottom line.
Peace of Mind-Yes, you have to make some tough choices along the way
but they are your choices to make. It is almost always every employees dream to
be the boss for a day so they can make whatever moves thought to be the best and
wouldn't you know it, some of the decision might be right. You will have the
satisfaction of making and owning the decisions on a daily basis instead of
casting your ballot into the black hole that is your team's suggestion box.
Speaking on that last point, it is hoped that thorough research and planned
development went to this ripple-effect decision of Marissa Meyer's. Her
employees, for whatever it is worth, may find solace in the fact that in this
economy they still have employment. If the worst of it is that they have to
share a work space, I for one would take that over a cardboard box.
And let's face it, if you really think that the Yahoo CEO's decision was not
well thought out, you could always send her a suggestion of your own. I know I
did, because fundamentally, work place or work space, all is not fair in love
and war.