You are right, presence does not equal performance but there is something that comes with being present that has value. The interactions between teams of employees can be critical to the health of the business. I have seen so much abuse of this policy and so little done about it that I can’t believe it doesn’t have an impact on the company as a whole. It also impacts the morale of those who are in the office that recognize the abuse. There’s nothing like being in a meeting listening to someone’s kids screaming in the from the backseat of their car. Creates a really productive atmosphere for sure.
Not necessarily, given modern day collaboration tools that allow individuals on a team to interact over distance.
The fact is, with nearly 20 years in IT and Management/Business I consistently see better collaboration here on FreeRepublic than I have in probably 90% of team situations where presence was compulsory.
To the point of when talking to people about the potential of remote collaboration I like to cite the night I lurked out here in Fall 2004 and saw Freepers deconstruct the whole Bush ANG Memo story. Which not only ensured that the hit didn’t impede Bushes reelection, it also brought down Dan Rather.
In that case, as others, there was no value in being present. It would have been a detriment actually, because it was only through remote collaboration that the knowlege necessary to expose the memo as fraudulent would have come together.
The traffic to where Yahoo is in Silicon Valley is HORRENDEOUS. If I worked for Yahoo, I'd have my resume out faster that I write this post. Losing a companies top talent to a competitor due to stuff like this is a sure way to Chapter 11
I note that you use the word “presence” as something that has value in the work environment. The idea of presence has been undergoing a radical change over the past dozen years or so. I work for an enormous software company that utilizes “virtual presence” to its competitive advantage, and it provides an excellent work-life balance to its employees. By combining team workspaces, audio conferencing, video conferencing, instant messaging, calendaring and email into a seamless tool, all of the aspects of presence are accomodated. In a global corporation, where a functional team might consist of folks in the US, UK, Australia and India, being able to use this type of tool is invaluable. I know, because its my job, along with my team, to run the beastie. Our feedback is consistently good (like 89% approval of an IT group by its user base - virtually unheard of). We can also hire people based on their skill set - and location is irrelevant.
On a personal note - I’ve worked at home using this technology for six years now. I touch base with my cohorts in the UK in the morning and in Australia in the early evening. I welcome my daughter home from school every afternoon. My dogs are at my feet, and some days I work in my pajamas. But I do my job very very well, or so say my bosses. Some days I work 9 - 5, other days 11 - 8, and occasionally 7 - 11...it all depends on the requirements of the day. I’ve stopped putting over 12,000 miles per year on my car, and my deparment is not cross-charged for office space used. My work environment is far superior to what I would have at the office - I have a much better chair, better lighting, superior systems equipment. If for some reason I do go into the office, I make use of what we call a “hotel cube” for the day - simply a vacant office available to company nomads.
It works out well for all involved - especially the company, which keeps its cost of doing business very low and its employees happy. All that is required are motivated, honest employees and a company that is a meritocracy, not a totalitarian hypocrite’s paradise, like Yahoo is shaping up to be.