On Wednesday, Microsoft instructed its employees to work from home to limit exposure to coronavirus, in response to cases or coronavirus close to its Seattle HQ and in California.
The Microsoft Seattle region and San Fransisco Bay Area employees were told to work from home until the 25th of March.
“Taking these measures will ensure your safety and also make the workplace safer for those that need to be onsite.”
– Kurt DelBene, Executive Vice President, Microsoft
According to the post, employees who need to be in the office or work environments like those who work in the data centre and retail must go to work in the locations. Microsoft has guaranteed to follow government guidelines for site disinfection.
Microsoft told employees to suspend any business travel unless absolutely essential for the continuity of the company.
Employees were told to cancel non-essential travel to places with active cases of the coronavirus like most of Europe, Asia and the Americas. Employees were informed that they were not required to travel if they had any concerns.
In the greater Seattle area, coronavirus numbers climbed to 39 on Wednesday with 10 deaths confirmed. This is the largest concentration of cases seen to date in the USA with most of them being connected to a long-term elder care facility.
New guidelines have been implemented for Microsoft employees in office where they were told to limit prolonged close interactions with others, reducing in-person meetings and keeping 6 feet apart from others.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field