Facebook and Google to let Most of their Employees Work from Home Through 2020
On the 7th of May, 2020, Facebook and Google told employees they will be allowing most of their employees to work from home till the ending of the year.
Meanwhile, Facebook said they do not plan to reopen their offices until the 6th of July. Before opening the company will have to they will consider various public health data, local nuances, and government guidance factors.
This will consider before knowing whether to reopen the offices on 6th July, said a spokeswoman.
On the other hand, Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees on Thursdays 7th July, at the company’s all-hands meeting that they will work remotely till the end of the year 2020.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, companies have been forced to work from home, same with Google and Facebook, as they work from home to reduce the spread of the virus. The opening of the two largest companies in Silicon Valley will give hope to other tech companies and plan to reopen in the coming months.
However, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in April, that the social network’s workers will likely be among the last to resume work in at the office when society reopens. With the note that returning to work will be done in a staggered way.
He also said most of his employees will work from home till the end of May. While employees, who work at home will be difficult like suicide and self-halm prevention or counter-terrorism, and also some engineers might resume sooner to the office.
Google also made similar plans to some of its workers
Telling them they might work from home at least till June 1. Google also said coming back. Meanwhile, Pichai said on Thursday that. Employees who will have to work from home will begin in June or July.
According to the information, and that the company will make sure to protect the workers following safety measures.
Thousands of several workers have been affected around the world with the announcements of the two large companies. Google currently has more than 120,000 workers and Facebook has more than 48,00 workers working full-time.
However, Facebook hasn’t decided workers who will resume work once offices reopened, earlier reported by CNBC. A Facebook spokeswoman said those who can remotely work from home will do so till the end of the year.
In an op-ed in Fortune on Thursday, the COO of Facebook Sheryl Sandberg said that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a “double shift” for female workers who have to look after children, elderly, and sick relatives.
She requested that companies and employees try and reduce stress by giving more flexibility in the workplace. Meanwhile, Facebook stopped performance ratings and also prolonged the benefits in childcare and create choices for caregivers.
However, emotional support should be given to workers by the company or managers, Sandberg said. She encouraged men to assist with house chores and also called for paid leave. A bigger minimum wage and childcare that is affordable.
“For us to get through this crisis, means assisting women in it too”, she said. “Everybody, elected officials, employers, managers, and spouses need to help in one way or the other to reduce their loads.”