Yahoo CEO Melissa made headlines in February when she banned working from home as a corporate practice. A new study out from Korn/Ferry may indicate she had a point, as a majority of executives say that nontraditional arrangements like working from home may lead to career stagnation.
“”While working at home can be beneficial for both companies and workers, it can also lead to ‘invisibility’ that can limit opportunities for career advancement,” said Korn/Ferry Leadership and Talent Consulting CEO Ana Dutra. “It is important for telecommuters to remain networked as closely as possible with peers and leaders in the office.”
The Korn Ferry report also noted that nearly 20 percent of surveyed executives believe teleworkers should be paid less than their in office counterparts
Despite their concerns that the face time home-based employees miss out on can limit career growth, the majority of corporate leaders did affirm that workers with the option to contribute from home increased corporate productivity.
Flexibility in work location and scheduling can also be a valuable for recruiting firms looking to attract top talent, says software developer and writer David Heinemeier Hansson.
He notes that employers are attracted to companies that allow them to custom balance their work and personal lives. He also notes that telecommuting gives companies a much large recruiting area to search in and the option of adding top talent from any location.