Have you been following this story about Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s new policy eliminating telecommuting, an edict that affects some 200 or so Yahoo employees? After the first spate of articles complete with knee-jerk reactions, came a second round of articles that drill deeper down into the issue and place it more into perspective. Check out this article in the New York Times.

My first instinct to the initial press on the topic, and as someone who has been working from home for nearly 17 years was to get my knickers in a twist as well. Now that I’ve read the Times piece, the move in that situation, is more understandable. The reality, which hits close to home, pardon the pun, is that not everyone has the discipline to work from home, and some people will inevitably abuse the privilege.

Not to brag, I think I’m disciplined. Then again, I work in a deadline-oriented world even if I am my own boss. Whenever possible, I prefer completing assignments early whenever possible. I’m already halfway done with the “Top 40 Most Influential People in the Imaging Industry,” which will run throughout the month of May in TWII and it’s only March 15. For those in a panic about getting their nominations in, the folks I’ve selected and am writing about are some of the more obvious selections, so there’s still time. I have a lot of travel scheduled for May and the more I do now, the less pressure I’ll have then. Again, not everyone has that discipline.

As many of you know I write for a variety of other publications besides TWII. One of those is a consumer computer magazine that comes out twice a year called PC Solutions. I’m the editor and each issue I work with about a half dozen or more outside writers. Again and again I see a lack of discipline with some of those writers. Even though they’re assigned articles 6-10 weeks in advance, some have difficulty meeting the deadline—even those who are currently unemployed or working part time and are independent contractors like myself who can’t seem to get their act together. These are examples of why some people can’t be left to their own devices, but need the structure of a traditional work environment. That Yahoo story hit home at just the right time even if a major reason for the policy change was to inspire more innovation within Yahoo. I see where Ms. Mayer is coming from and it’s not always a pretty place.

As for me, I’m still plugging away to get things done as early as possible. No goofing off here. No brag, just fact. (10 points to anyone who can name the TV show where that line comes from. Youtube hint below.)