Although the covid-19 pandemic is still so furious all over the world, the big tech companies seem to be excited about the recently developments during the last months and are taking the first steps to get their workers back to the office.
This week, Uber and Facebook they announced deadlines for a small percentage of their workforce to return to some of the company’s facilities. Uber will reopen its Mission Bay offices in San Francisco on Monday with 20% occupancy, while Facebook plans to reopen select offices in the Bay Area continuously from May, up 10% of maximum seated capacity. Microsoft it will also open its headquarters in Redmond, Washington and nearby campuses on a limited basis on Monday.
The return to the office will be voluntary on Uber, Facebook and Microsoft at this time.
Uber spokesman Lois Van Der Laan told Gizmodo on Saturday that as cities carefully return to new normalcy, Uber will do the same. The return to the office will be done voluntarily, he said, adding that Uber’s work from the domestic police has been extended until September 13th.
Van Der Lann said the company’s reopening protocols meet public health guidelines.
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“Our office’s reopening protocols meet (or exceed) global, national, and local public health guidelines and are developed in collaboration with public health experts and health and safety partners,” he said in an email . “Employees returning to work must complete virtual training, sign a COVID-19 precautions and recognition form, and do a daily health check (including temperature check) at home to qualify for return.”
Other established measures include security signage, social distancing banners, approximately two meters of space between desks and mandatory facials during the initial reopening phase. Uber also increases office cleaning services and says employees with symptoms or who have sick relatives should stay home. When it comes to vaccines, Uber told Gizmodo they won’t be a requirement in this reopening phase.
Facebook told Gizmodo on Saturday that it was moving from a single global home date job to a site-by-site approach. The company said employees have had the option to work from home until July 2 and that, as of that date, any employee who is not a full-time remote worker can continue to work from home. until one month after the reopening of its office to 50%. capacity.
According to Facebook, the latest data suggests that the earliest the company will likely be able to open its largest sites at 50% capacity will be after September 7th.
“The health and safety of our employees and community neighbors is our top priority and we take a measured approach to reopening offices,” Facebook spokeswoman Chloe Meyere told Gizmodo. “When we return to the office, we have a variety of security protocols, including physical distancing and necessary masks at all times in the office and, where possible, weekly testing requirements for anyone working at the site. We will continue working with experts to ensure that our return to office plans prioritizes the health and safety of all. ”
Many of the Facebook offices, depending on where they are located, are in a different phase of reopening. In order to determine how and when to reopen, the company primarily examines local health data, specifically local case rates, vaccination rates, and local access to testing and therapeutics, among other factors.
In terms of vaccination, Facebook will not require employees to receive the vaccine in order to return to the office at this time. The company states that the vaccine is safe and encourages employees to get the vaccine as long as they are eligible. He has done so recently threw a tool to help people figure out where and when to get vaccinated.
Microsoft Executive Vice President Kurt DelBene said in a blog post that Microsoft jobs in 21 countries had been able to accommodate additional workers at its facilities. Employees working in these positions account for about 20% of the company’s overall workforce. In the future, the company will focus on a hybrid workplace model.
As for his Redmond office, DelBene said Microsoft had been monitoring local health data for months and had determined that the office could house more employees safely while meeting Washington state capacity limits.
“As we monitor progress against the virus in the region and continue to assess our orientation, employees working at Redmond workplaces or nearby campuses have the option of returning to these facilities or continuing to work remotely and they also have the flexibility to do a mix of both, ”DelBene wrote.
He said Microsoft had assessed all of its jobs to understand what adjustments were needed to allow for social distancing and meet local health standards. Employees will be provided with on-site supplies such as disinfectant wipes and facial coatings. Microsoft also has limited capacity in conference rooms, has implemented attendance strategies, and posted posters in common areas to ensure social distancing, among other measures.
Gizmodo contacted Microsoft on Saturday to comment on whether vaccines are needed for its workers to return to the office, but we knew nothing at the time of publication. We will make sure to update this blog if we do.
As for other big tech companies, reported the Virgin that Google’s plans to return to the office are uncertain at this time. In 2020, Google said would allow its employees to work from home until September of this year. Apple CEO Tim Cook said in December that it seemed likely that most teams would not return to office before June 2021, for Bloomberg. Twitter i Spotifymeanwhile, they allow employees to work from home permanently if they wish.