Business 10th Edition by Ferrell,Geoffrey Hirt,Linda Ferrell

Exercise 7

The Pros and Cons of Working from Home
Allowing employees to work from home, known as telecommuting, has become a controversial topic for managers and human resources departments. With the advancement of technology, telecommuting has become easier and a part of many companies' cultures. It has been reported that 80 percent of companies listed on Fortune 's "Best Companies to Work For" offer employees the opportunity to work from home. Telecommuting has become a major benefit for employees. However, working from home has many challenges, and some firms are reversing their companies' work-from-home policies. Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer declared that the majority of Yahoo! employees would no longer be allowed to work from home because she believes employees need to interact with one another to improve productivity and cohesiveness. Bank of America and Best Buy have also reduced or eliminated work-from-home programs.
For many employees, working from home provides the benefit of achieving a work/life balance. Studies have shown that working from home can provide a happier environment and foster stronger loyalty from employees. This idea can be used as a motivational tool for employees if proper communication is provided linking employees to their businesses.
However, some employers believe that telecommuting is allowing collaboration among employees to suffer. By working from home, employees are becoming independent and potentially isolated, creating disconnections within the company. Also, employers are questioning whether employees abuse this privilege and are less efficient than they would be in an office environment. The question of whether telecommuting is productive and beneficial for the company remains a center of debate. 24
What are the disadvantages of using work-from-home policies to motivate employees?