Yahoo has issued a ban on “remote working”, effectively stopping its staff from working from home.

The chief executive of the internet company, Marissa Mayer, has sent out a memo to tell employees that they will no longer be able to work from home. The memo, released to employees by head of human resources at Yahoo, Jackie Reses, read: “We need to be working side-by-side. That is why it is critical that we are all present in our offices. Some of the best decisions and insights come from hallway and cafeteria discussions, meeting new people, and impromptu team meetings.

“Speed and quality are often sacrificed when we work from home. We need to be one Yahoo!, and that starts with physically being together.”

The decision has been widely questioned by the media, especially as the majority of companies are now moving towards more flexible working arrangements. Indeed, home-based work in the computer, engineering and science fields has risen by almost 70 per cent between 2000 and 2010, according to research from the Census Bureau.

An article in the Guardian, penned by Emma Keller, highlighted the fact that the decree is particularly interesting given that it has come from Mayer, who is renowned for keeping people waiting for up to an hour for meetings. Keller suggested that the policy change hints that Mayer does not know how to “show you value other people's time”.