Attention Yahoos: more memos from HR

In the most notorious HR memo of all time, Yahoo announced the end of full-time teleworking at her organisation. What else are they cracking down on?

BY Rose Sneyd 01 Mar 2013

It's quickly gaining notoriety as the most controversial HR memo of all time, Yahoo!’s HR director Jackie Reses announced the end of full-time teleworking at her organisation. The memo, reportedly leaked by numerous disgruntled employees, has ignited hyperbolised expressions of outrage on the part of those who see it as an archaic and authoritarian move.

Some of the most rational commentary came from Alison Green, the writer behind the addictive ‘Ask a Manager’ blog, in a post entitled “Stop freaking out over Yahoo’s teleworking announcement”. Green pointed out that the policy wasn’t working and that it was an unusual one amongst Silicon Valley tech companies.

Most interestingly, perhaps, she observed that the commentary has been marred by a gratuitous focus on Marissa Mayer herself. “It’s not exactly a feminist viewpoint to assess Mayer’s decisions as a woman first and a CEO second. So thanks for that, Internet,” she wrote.

On the other hand, the funniest commentary has come from a Twitter parody that mocks the perceived ‘hard-line’ nature of the decision, and Mayer’s approach. The account, ‘Yahoo! HR’ (@_YahooHR), is quickly gaining followers for its amusingly draconian edicts addressed to imaginary Yahoos.

Here are some of the best examples:

Yahoos, we are blocking Google Search in all corporate offices. Yahoo! Search is a great alternative, just as good, if not better.
Lincoln once said, “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.” Please remove the wheels from your desk chairs by 3pm.
We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with a sensible dress code. Get excited. Tuesdays are now Turtleneck Tuesdays.
Pregnant? Starting in May, we are rolling out the Maternity Stay initiative. Doctors will be onsite to deliver babies at your desk 24/7.
Process blocking your success? Bureaucracy getting you down? You’re fired.
Yahoos, style is everything. Starting next month, anyone wearing pleated khakis will be asked to resign.
Yahoo! Believes in a culture of hard work and focus. Please, keep the smiling to a minimum.
Beginning on Friday, we’re asking all employees to refer to our CEO, Marissa Mayer, as “Your Grace.”