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On Wednesday, Facebook disclosed that it will provide its employee with the option to remote working for a long term. It revealed that it will support some interested employees to shift to other countries as well.
The internet giant informed ‘AFP’ that from June 15, Facebook will let any employee whose job can be done remotely ask to work that way permanently.
On an update to its remote work policy Facebook stated, “We believe how we work is more important than where we work.” It further stated, “We want to be the place where people can do the best work of their careers while ensuring a consistent experience for employees no matter where they are located.”
Earlier, during the pandemic Facebook and other Silicon Valley firms moved to remote working, relying on the internet tools they create to get jobs done.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook expressed that he expects the shift to remote work to be a lasting one at the leading social network, which plans to look for employees able to do their jobs from wherever they happen to live.
After a prolonged pandemic shutdown, Facebook commenced to reopen its offices without the facilities of free food and commuter shuttles. The major reasons stated for reopening the offices and welcoming its employees are the rollout of vaccines and improving health conditions.
About the work schedule, Facebook informed that the employees who are returning to offices will have flexible working hours but its guidance is for people to be on-site at least half the time. The leading social network confirmed that it is on track to have most of its US campuses at 50 per cent strength by early September.
As per the California based firm, few Facebook offices in Europe and Asia are open. Facebook asserted that the safety protocols in place include wearing face masks and keeping one’s distance at work, along with routine COVID-19 testing.
According to the company, commencing from June 15, Facebook will expand remote work across international borders, supporting shifts from the United States to Canada as well as shifts to Britain from other parts of Europe.
Google and Microsoft have revealed almost similar hybrid schemes for its employees while on the other hand some firms like Twitter have informed its employees that they are able to work remotely indefinitely.
As far the reports are concerned, Apple is facing employees resistance to its plan to bring back the employees to the offices. The company have asked the employees to return to office three days a week beginning from September. Some Apple employees have signed a letter calling for more flexibility for employees who have been doing their jobs remotely for more than a year.
The Apple letter stated that remote system works well and gives employees better work-life balance, while accommodating those with special needs and reducing the risk of contagion.