NYC Techies Are Returning to the Office
Tech companies invite workers to return to offices as New York City lifts capacity restrictions on businesses, venues and gatherings.
Amazon is expecting workers back by the early fall, pulling back from requesting that workers return by July 1, 2021. Google encouraged workers to return to offices in a limited capacity in April, but pulled back from making full-time in-person work mandatory. The company is now encouraging a “hybrid approach,” in which 60 percent of employees will be on site a few days a week, 20 percent will work in new office locations, and 20 percent will work from home. Google also expects to develop more remote roles, including “fully all-remote sub teams.” In June 2021, Google will inform employees how to request to work permanently from home or from different offices. It will then adjust these employees’ pay.
During the pandemic, Twitter announced it would allow employees to work from home permanently. It has stood by that provision. In May 2020, Twitter stated on its blog, “When we do decide to open offices…it will be careful, intentional, office by office and gradual.”
With five offices in New York City, Salesforce has reopened many other locations, mostly in Asia. It has introduced “Volunteer Vaccinated Cohorts” in select U.S. offices, in which fully vaccinated employees can volunteer to join groups of 100 or fewer people to work on designated floors in certain offices. Volunteers must undergo on-site COVID testing twice a week and follow safety protocols and health mandates.
Facebook began reopening its Bay Area offices in spring 2021, limiting capacity to 10 percent. It is unclear where the company stands on reopening its New York offices. Uber is also welcoming back in-person workers, although it cut a quarter of its pre-pandemic workforce in May 2020.
New York State will remove most business capacities on May 19. The indoor social gathering limit will increase from 100 to 250. New York City requires a safety plan and a business affirmation form to affirm compliance with New York State guidance for a business to open.
Small businesses with fewer than 100 employees, including tech startups, can receive free face coverings. All New York City businesses can order free COVID-19 safety posters and flyers to encourage social distancing, masking and vaccination against COVID-19.
For more New York City Technology news and culture, follow us on Instagram, Twitter @NYCWired and sign up for our Newsletter below.
