HP's change of direction on telecommuting

Apparently, the HP way now means be at your desk--or else.

Hewlett-Packard is eliminating telecommuting for many of its IT workers, according to an article in the San Jose Mercury News. By August, almost all of the venerable company's IT employees, including those working overseas, will have to show up to one of 25 designated offices during most of the week, the paper reported.

Those who aren't willing to make the move will be let go, employees told the Merc.

While many companies encourage telecommuting to cut down on costs and attract staff, HP said the new rules will help employees teach one another, and improve performance at some groups.

Blog community response:

"Cheaper is not always better when it comes to the way people work together. Bean counters may think so: managers who actually must get the best out of their folks know otherwise."
--TechBlog

"Reversing telecommuting in a company that may have attracted better talent because of its telecommuting opportunites is not as easy as HP may think."
--the LOOSE wire blog

"Why am I ambivalent? Because experience tells me it's counterproductive to have a firm rule, one way or another, that's enforced in a singular manner all the time."
--TechSearch