Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has told its staff from Silicon Valley and Seattle to work from home so that the casualties related to the Coronavirus are kept under control. The American multinational company was forced to take this decision after a few cases of the deadly virus were discovered near the company’s California office and its headquarters in Seattle.
Microsoft is not the only tech company to respond to the growing threat of the Coronavirus. At the start of this week, social media giant Facebook, Inc. Common Stock (NASDAQ: FB) declared that it will allow the World Health Organization (WHO) to run free advertisements on its platform to combat the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
Continuing Work With Minimal Threat
Most of the companies want to continue with the work but with minimal threat and hence have adapted to this work from home option. Microsoft, too has asked its staff to continue working from their homes at least for a few weeks until the threat of virus from China recedes. WHO has identified around 93,000 cases of the Coronavirus worldwide. The virus has affected the most populated country in the world the most as COVID-19 was first identified in Wuhan, China.
In his blog post, the executive vice president of Microsoft, Kurt DelBene, wrote, “Consistent with King County guidance; we are recommending all employees who are in a job that can be done from home should do so through March 25.” He further added that the measures are being taken to ensure a safe workplace. The company will come up with new directives after March 25.
Retail Staff Members Allowed To Be On-Site
For those who are working in data centers or retail stores, the work from home option does not apply. They will have to be on the site of their work as usual. However, senior citizens above 60 years, pregnant ladies, and those with a compromised health condition or immune system should stay at home. The post by DelBene elaborates that people who are sick should not report to work at all, whereas those who have to work on-site should strictly avoid prolonged interaction.