Why Not Work From Home? “We Have The Technology,” Says WordPress’ Mullenweg

The benefits and drawbacks of working from home — or having employees working from home — has been a big topic of discussion in the online advertising and publishing worlds, ever since new Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer told the company’s telecommuters to come into an office or say bye bye to their jobs.

One contrary point of view came from an interesting and influential voice this week — WordPress founding developer Matt Mullenweg, who was interviewed by AllThingsD’s Kara Swisher at SXSW Interactive.

“Why are so many companies set into this factory model?” Mullenweg asked. “Find the best people you can and let them do their work.”

Of Automattic’s 150 employees, only around 20 come in to the company’s headquarters in San Francisco, Mullenweg said. The rest are spread around the world. And that has been the company’s philosophy from its founding 7 years ago.

“We have the technology,” the well-known tech innovator said, referring to software that allows employees to connect in a variety of different ways, such as video and text, both synchronously and asynchronously.

For more on Mullenweg’s comments about the future of blogging and WordPress, check out our wider coverage. 

Full disclosure: many employees of Marketing Land’s parent company, Third Door Media, work from home offices.

About The Author

Pamela Parker

Pamela Parker is Research Director at Third Door Media's Content Studio, where she produces Martech Intelligence Reports and other in-depth content for digital marketers in conjunction with Search Engine Land, Marketing Land, MarTech Today and Digital Marketing Depot. Prior to taking on this role at TDM, she served as Content Manager, Senior Editor and Executive Features Editor. Parker is a well-respected authority on digital marketing, having reported and written on the subject since its beginning. She's a former managing editor of ClickZ and has also worked on the business side helping independent publishers monetize their sites at Federated Media Publishing. Parker earned a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.