Amazon defers its work-on-site plans to January amid COVID-19 spread

• Amazon had previously asked its U.S.-based employees to resume working on-site from September 6, 2021.
• This news comes amid rising COVID-19 infections from the Delta variant in the U.S.

Amazon has reportedly postponed the requirement for office employees to return to work until January next year. This news comes amid rising COVID-19 infections from the delta variant in the U.S.

According to reliable sources, the e-commerce company had previously asked its employees in the U.S. and other countries to resume working on-site from September 6, 2021.

For the record, Amazon employs more than 75,000 people in Seattle. Most of them work in Bellevue or the corporate headquarters complex in Seattle. The company also has major offices in New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Washington, and Boston.

Microsoft Corporation, which is Amazon’s neighbor in Seattle, recently postponed its return-to-office plans to October. The tech giant also stated that employees and visitors alike will have to show proof of vaccination before entering its facilities.

Other Big 5 companies like Facebook Inc., and Google LLC have recently made vaccines mandatory for office-goers as well. While Google LLC and Apple Inc. delayed their return-to-office plans to October, the latter asked its employees in some stores to start wearing masks, regardless of vaccination status.

Increasing concerns over delta spread have also affected the financial sector with prominent investment firms like Wells Fargo & Co. and Blackrock Inc. putting off their return-to-work plans till October 2021.

In related news, McDonald’s Corporation recently asked all its staff and customers to mask up regardless of their vaccination status to combat high transmission risks in the U.S. These guidelines are in line with the recommendations given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amid the COVID-19 surge.

Source Credits—

https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/amazon-delays-return-to-office-plan-until-january-on-covid-surge-11628182994851.html