A recent article in the Wall Street Journal confirms that at least larger organizations have begun moving down a different path regarding flexible work practices

We know that during the past few years Yahoo, IBM and Aetna, and other large organizations have begun to make changes in their virtual work practices, in all cases moving away from flexible practices including work from home, virtual office spaces and other forms of telecommuting. These and other organizations cite the need by managers for greater collaboration among employees, closer contact with customers and more control over day-to-day work. For some of us, this is at odds with the continuing increase of employers allowing flexible work arrangements with their employees. For those of us who follow this logic, the article is surprising as it points out that the number of U.S. employees who perform work virtually, has decreased to 22% in 2016 from 24% in 2015.

Again, this information pertains to large organizations, and may not fit well within midsize and smaller organizations, especially start-ups. As with any company policy or initiative, we recommend using this information on flexible work practices to inform your organization’s strategy and culture.