Distribution Industry Expands 'Work From Home'... Encouraging Annual Leave Use and Expanding Flexible Work Hours

Retail Industry with Frequent Face-to-Face Contact
Duty-Free Shops and Home Shopping Expand Remote Work
Department Stores Encourage Annual Leave Use... Expand Flexible Work Arrangements

On the 28th, amid growing concerns over the spread of COVID-19, commuters near Yeouido Station in Seoul hurriedly walked wearing masks on their way to work. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] As the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation intensifies, the distribution industry has also started implementing remote work. Especially large department stores and big marts, which often temporarily close due to confirmed cases visiting, are encouraging employees to use their annual leave because of the high level of interpersonal contact.

According to the industry on the 28th, remote work is spreading throughout the distribution sector. This measure takes into account the nature of the distribution business, which involves frequent contact with unspecified many people.

Lotte Duty Free is implementing remote work for its headquarters employees until the 6th of next month. The decision to extend this will depend on the COVID-19 spread trend. Hyundai Department Store Duty Free will conduct two-shift remote work for two weeks from the 2nd to the 15th of next month. Employees are divided into two teams per group, with one team working remotely and the other attending the office. The same measure applies to Hyundai Department Store as well.

The home shopping industry is also implementing remote work except for essential broadcasting production personnel. Lotte Home Shopping initially implemented remote work for pregnant employees but expanded it to all employees due to the COVID-19 spread trend. GS Home Shopping, which previously had confirmed cases among employees, is conducting remote work for all except the minimum broadcasting-related staff until the 8th of next month. The in-house daycare center has also been closed. CJ ENM O Shopping division employees have also started remote work excluding essential personnel until the 8th of next month.

Shinsegae Group is also conducting two weeks of remote work for pregnant employees at its E-Mart and SSG.com affiliates to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Homeplus is also conducting two weeks of remote work for pregnant employees. Additionally, all employees are checking their temperature twice a day to prepare for any situation.

On the other hand, the department store industry is struggling with implementing remote work. Lotte Department Store and Shinsegae Department Store have issued notices encouraging employees to use their annual leave instead of remote work. They are also implementing flexible working hours by advancing or delaying start times to avoid rush hours where interpersonal contact is high. Some employees have expressed dissatisfaction, saying, "There is nowhere suitable to go domestically or abroad, so we are forced to use up our annual leave."

A department store industry official explained, "Currently, department stores nationwide are consecutively closing, and sales are declining. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the industry situation is not good, so deciding on remote work is not easy. Encouraging annual leave and shortening working hours may also be attempts to reduce costs."

Lotte Department Store and Shinsegae Department Store plan to check their internal systems for remote work feasibility and monitor the COVID-19 spread trend before deciding whether to implement remote work.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.