Module 1 – Case

Telecommuting

Assignment Overview

Telecommuting

With technological advancements, many employees are able to work from
home one or more days per week. Telecommuting is becoming more popular
and allows an employee to take advantage of technology and complete
tasks from home or a coffee shop. With globalization and
organizations hiring employees from different countries, it becomes
imperative for employers to embrace telecommuting because of the added
benefits for not only the employees but also the employer. Some of the
advantages for both the employer and employees are highlighted in the
following table:

Telecommuting Benefits

Employer Benefits	Employee Benefits
Allows for a larger pool of diverse employees when recruiting Assists with retention efforts Reduces organizational costs	Enhances employees’ personal lives and health May enhance employee job satisfaction and organizational commitment levels Autonomy

Interestingly enough in February
2013, the CEO of Yahoo (Marissa Mayer) implemented a policy to stop the
company’s popular working-from-home program. According to Cohan (2013), a
memo sent to Yahoo employees emphasized the following:

• “We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together.”
• “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.”

Although Marissa Mayer of Yahoo has been widely criticized for her
decision, it is important to note that she has to look out for what is
in her organization’s best interest. As a CEO, difficult decisions must
be made that may not always satisfy and resonate with all employees.

Drawing on the material in the background readings and doing
additional research, please prepare a 4-5 page paper (not including the
cover and reference pages) in which you:

• Analyze the pros and cons of telecommuting from a human resource
  professional perspective and discuss the added value of telecommuting
  when recruiting new talent. Also, what impact will telecommuting have on
  an organization’s overall image?
• What trainings could you provide for efficient telecommuting?

Assignment Expectations

Your paper will be evaluated on the following points:

• Precision – Does the paper address the question(s) or task(s)?
• Clarity – Is the writing clear and the concepts articulated
  properly? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means
  of response to the questions, or are excessive use of quotations how
  thoughts are conveyed? Are headings included in all papers greater than
  2 pages?
• Breadth – Is the full breadth of the subject addressed?
• Depth – Does the paper address the topic in sufficient depth?
• Grammar, spelling and vocabulary – Is the paper written well – is
  the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary suitable to graduate level work?
• Referencing (citations and references) – Does the paper use citations and quotation marks when appropriate?
• Critical thinking – Is the subject thought about critically, i.e., accurately, logically, relevantly, and precisely?