Microsoft will allow employees to work from home permanently if they wish, according to reports.
Washington, United States:
Software giant Microsoft will allow employees to work from home at all times if they wish, US media reported on Friday, becoming the latest employer to expand work from home provisions due to the Covid pandemic. 19.
The Verge said most Microsoft employees are still at home as the health crisis continues, and that the company does not plan to reopen its offices in the United States until January next year at the earliest.
But when it does, workers can choose to work permanently from their residence, although in this case they will have to give up their office space.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has challenged us all to think, live and work in new ways,” said Kathleen Hogan, Microsoft’s chief human resources officer, in a note to employees obtained by tech media.
“We will provide as much flexibility as possible to support individual work styles, while balancing the needs of the business and ensuring that we live our culture.”
In a statement to AFP, a Microsoft spokesperson did not address whether working from home would be made permanent, but said: “Our goal is to evolve the way we work over time. time with intention – driven by employee contributions, data and our commitment to supporting individual work styles and business needs while living our culture. “
The Verge report says employees will need their managers’ approval to work remotely on a permanent basis, but may spend less than 50% of their week away from the office without approval.
Some employees will not be eligible for remote work agreements, such as those who work in Microsoft labs or train other employees.
In its memo, the company co-founded by Bill Gates said it was possible for its workers to move across the United States or perhaps overseas, The Verge reported.
Those who move may see their wages change depending on where they go, and while the company will cover expenses for employees’ home offices, it will not cover relocation costs.
At the end of June, Microsoft employed 163,000 people, including 96,000 in the United States, according to a securities filing.
Some large tech companies have already allowed permanent work-from-home arrangements, including Facebook, whose boss, Mark Zuckerberg, said half of the social network’s staff could be working permanently remotely within five to ten years.
