Virtual Working: Not For Marissa Mayer!
The Yahoo CEO recently sparked a lively debate about presenteesim when she insisted Yahoo employees physically attended the office – How Marissa Mayer Figured Out Work-At-Home Yahoos Were Slacking Off
Predictably responses span the full spectrum of opinion. Her supporters think it’s a stroke of genius, corporate communication says “nobody minds”, while those at the other extreme of opinion think this is something only the Amish could conceive. Whatever her reasons – apparently she wasn’t happy with the level of connectivity on the corporate network and, whether valid and justified or not, she may come to regret the way this change has been presented and managed.
I don’t suppose the public at large will every learn the real reasons for Marissa Mayer’s policy change which seems to fly in the face of the current trend in virtual working. Perhaps she really does believe Yahoo’s shareholder aren’t getting value for money from their employees. Or, she may be of the view that there is so much to do at Yahoo that only co-located employees are likely to achieve the necessary level of cooperation and collaboration that’s needed.
Either way, only time will tell if this is a stroke of genius or a corporate reputation killing move?
