work from home

Not everyone is unhappy about the new work-from-home ban at Yahoo! that will take effect in June. In fact, some employees have spoken up in support of it on the question-and-answer website Quora.

One anonymous user's answer, which received 582 upvotes and counting, states an overhaul is needed in the company and this new work-from-office-only policy is just part of it. Though many will compare Yahoo! to tech companies like Google that have more flexible working arrangements, anonymous retorts, "My question would be have you seen their P&L? They make boatloads of money. We are fighting to stay relevant. So getting your ass into the office and working on projects is not too much to ask."

The work-from-home policy isn't as strict as it's being reported, according to another anonymous user, and the firm is still reasonable when it comes to emergencies.

If you're one of the hundreds of disgruntled Yahoo! workers that now have to show up at the office full-time after the company's new edict to cease work-from-home arrangements come June, you might be looking for a new job. Here are some firms that would give you the option of telecommuting:

• Automattic: You've probably heard of this web developer if you blog. Automattic is the brains behind blogging platform WordPress that powers over millions of blogs. One of the most intriguing things about Automattic is that all of its employees work from home from all over the world. It currently has 12 open positions on their career site.
• Cisco: According to a survey, 90 percent of employees at networking systems company Cisco are regular telecommuters. There are plenty of jobs available at Cisco as it is the largest networking firm in the world.
• Intel: You will have lots of telecommuting opportunities at Intel. In fact, 80 percent of the semiconductor chip maker's workers are regular telecommuters. Its website even says it offers "compressed workweeks and alternate work schedules, telecommuting, and part-time and job share opportunities . . . " Look for an Intel position on its jobs page here.
• Teach For America: One reason why the nonprofit Teach For America is regularly ranked as one of the happiest places to work is the flexible telecommuting work policy. As long as they get their work done, TFA employees are allowed to live anywhere and work from home although they are encouraged to spend time in classrooms. TFA is a huge organization with over 1,500 employees, so there are quite a number of job listings available.
• Accenture: Accenture is another company with a high number of regular telecommuters — 81 percent. The consulting company's career perks page even specifies that employees will have the option of working from home. Check out its listings here.
• GitHub: Code repository service GitHub, a firm with over 100 employees, embraces the work-from-anywhere philosophy. It currently has two openings, including a technical support rep position.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers: This professional services firm has a formal telecommuting policy of "routinely working from home three or more days per week" according to its page on the company's flexibility. See if there's a position for you here.

In addition to the companies mentioned above, AllThingsD found many tech giants are flexible with work-from-home arrangements, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, LinkedIn, and Hewlett-Packard.

Maybe you're working from home for the holidays. Maybe your WiFi is out of commission. Maybe your live-in boyfriend/roommate/cat is driving you crazy and you need to get out of the house — ASAP. Whatever the case, sometimes you need a place to camp out and set up an office where there is none. Circumstances like these call for The Portable Office, a traveling bag of tricks designed to create a personal working oasis anytime, anywhere. Next time you need to work on the go, use these tips for a productive office space:

BYOP: Bring Your Own Power Strip
Think of a coffee shop power strip as a real-life social network: it's a small but powerful technology that connects unlikely people in unlikely situations. Encourage fellow coffee-shop patrons to share the wealth by bringing along your own travel-friendly, multi-outlet surge protector ($22). But first, ask the barista behind the counter if you can plug in; you don't want to blow a circuit and leave an army of caffeine addicts in your wake.

Keep valuables close
. . . And not just for security reasons. You're most likely working in a small space, so use it economically. Short USB cables ($25) are great when working with multiple devices like a camera or external hard drive. But when you do want to keep things secure when you need to run to the bathroom or grab your next cup, use the PNY Technologies portable computer locking system ($21) and a security clamp ($19).

. . . And your coffee cup closer
Tech etiquette dictates that you can't just sit and work in a café for free; pay rent on your real estate by buying coffee. That paper cup sitting next to your laptop is proof of purchase, so keep it close by. A polite geek rule of thumb is to purchase a new drink at least every two hours when on a shop's WiFi.

Play it safe in public
Don't assume that a public WiFi hotspot is secure. Only log in to encrypted websites; their web addresses will begin with "https" instead of "http." Most popular sites can be loaded into encryption using a browser plug-in called HTTPS Everywhere. If you're really worried, then invest in a personal hotspot like the Verizon MiFi.

Not sure where to go to set up shop? Hotspotr helps you locate WiFi cafés all over the country.

Photo: Nicole Nguyen

Oh, the glorious couch! Working from home has many advantages: there's no commute, none of the same distractions you have in an office full of people, you can walk your own dog, save money on lunches out, and the list goes on. The big downside to the arrangement? It takes discipline. Here's my best advice for staying focused and checking off the list.

• Get Dressed — It may sound trivial, but you'll feel more productive when you're not working in the same clothes you slept in. I love pj's as much as the next person, but oversized drawstring pants don't exactly scream time for work. Shower and put on clothes that you wouldn't necessarily wear to bed.
• Organize Your Day — There are even more ways to procrastinate at home than at the office. Laundry suddenly sounds like a blast when you're on the hook for a less than exciting project. Use time goals, like writing down what you'll accomplish before noon, and keep an up-to-date to-do list to organize your priorities.

For additional helpful tips for working at home, read more