Watch CBS News

Local Businesses And Employees React To Yahoo! Ban On Telecommuting

PLAINVIEW, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The chorus of criticism is getting louder after Internet giant Yahoo! told staff they could no longer work from home, starting June 1.

Across Long Island, bosses and employees have mixed views on the issue of telecommuting.

Dominique Pristina works as an event planner for Creative Games in Hicksville. For her, there is no 9-to-5 or office clock to punch since her work can be done from anywhere.

"I have my own at-home desk and computer. I can log in from there. My phone gets directed here so all the calls that come into the office I can answer on my cell phone," Pristina told CBS 2's Carolyn Gusoff on Wednesday.

Pristina's boss said his decision to adopt a flexible work policy to retain trained employees has worked.

"I've been away and worked a full week's schedule on an iPhone so I don't understand how, at this point, you couldn't do things from home that you could do at the office," said Erick Mauro of Creative Games, Inc.

His happy workers agree, especially women who intend to balance work with motherhood.

"If you could get the same amount of work done, it's better for you and the company," event planner Lauren Cassella told Gusoff.

A national debate over workplace flexibility has been swirling since Yahoo!'s stunning reversal banning work-from-home arrangements.

The company's new CEO, Marissa Mayer, has come under fire. She built a nursery next to her office for her own newborn.

Mayer announced she was pregnant shortly after taking the helm last year.

Yahoo! reportedly told workers that speed and quality are sacrificed when employees work from home.

At software company Incentient in Plainview, the company's CEO said he agrees with Yahoo!'s move. He has phased out telecommuting for his own employees.

"There's no way we can instantly assemble work groups and work teams throughout the day to meet the needs of a changing business when everyone is at home," Incentient CEO Pat Martucci told Gusoff.

Yahoo! is saying little publicly other than its decision is not a broad view on working from home, just about what is right for Yahoo! now.

A Yahoo! spokesman said the company will not comment further on internal matters.

Do you think telecommuting should be banned by certain companies? Sound off in the comments section below...

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.