Amazon will give employees the option to do their jobs from home until at least early October — extending its remote work guidance by several months, and providing a potential bellwether for other companies in the larger discussion about when and how to bring teams back to the office.
"Employees who work in a role that can effectively be done from home are welcome to do so until at least October 2," the company says in an updated internal policy page, viewed by GeekWire on Thursday. "We will continue to evaluate the situation and update this page as needed."
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However, the company notes that working from the office "may be another option" prior to that point, with precautions, following government guidelines in different locations around the world.
The update encourages employees to talk with their managers if they're interested in working from the office. It adds that "leaders will be provided with resources so that they can tailor plans to meet the unique needs of their teams."
It's potentially grim news for restaurants, shops and service providers that operate in and around Amazon's sprawling campus north of downtown Seattle, which has been largely empty since early March. The company was one of the first major employees to shift employees to remote work as the COVID-19 crisis rose in the United States. It has offered financial assistance to businesses around its offices impacted by employees working from home.
Prior to this week's update, Amazon had recommended that corporate employees who could work from home should do so through April 24.
Amazon confirmed the updated guidance in response to GeekWire's inquiry.
"We will continue to prioritize the health of our employees and follow local government guidance," a spokesperson said. "Employees who work in a role that can effectively be done from home are welcome to do so until at least October 2. We are working hard and investing significant funds to keep those who choose to come to the office safe through physical distancing, deep cleaning, temperature checks, and the availability of face coverings and hand sanitizer."
Amazon outlined the steps that it's taking to implement new safeguards across the company as part of its earnings report on Thursday afternoon. The company told investors it will spend $4 billion this quarter on initiatives responding to COVID-19 and related issues.
Much of the focus in the midst of the outbreak has been on improving safeguards in Amazon's distribution network and retail stores. Workers in dozens of the Amazon fulfillment centers have been diagnosed with the disease. Amazon has declined to disclose the total numbers.
Other companies, such as Zillow Group, have also been giving employees the option to work from home until much later in the year. With more than 900,000 employees around the world, Amazon's policies and decisions can have an outsized impact, and inform the decisions of other companies.
Amazon was among the companies that contributed to a Madrona Venture Group "Back to Work Toolkit" with guidance for companies on reopening their workplaces.
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