"I Live Alone"... Companies Leading the Way in 'Social Distancing'

SK Innovation labor and management are holding a wage negotiation signing ceremony via video conference.

Companies Actively Adopt Remote and Flexible Work

Online Health Screening and Self-Diagnosis Apps Also Distributed

[Asia Economy Reporters So-yeon Park, Yoon-joo Hwang] On the 5th, Andong-il, CEO of Hyundai Steel, urged employees through the internal intranet to actively participate in 'social distancing' to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). CEO Andong-il emphasized, "Complacent thoughts and actions can put yourself, your family, and the company at risk," and urged, "Please thoroughly manage your own and your family's hygiene and refrain from external activities." He specifically requested, "Business trips between domestic workplaces are prohibited," and "Please strictly refrain from external business trips." Hyundai Steel has been conducting remote work in two teams on a biweekly basis since last week.

On the 3rd, SK Innovation's labor and management held the '2020 Wage Negotiation Signing Ceremony' via video conference connecting SK Building in Seorin-dong, Seoul, and SK Ulsan CLX. This unprecedented video meeting was held to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Attendees were minimized to Kim Jun, President of SK Innovation, and Lee Seong-hoon, Chairman of the SK Innovation Labor Union, among others. This was in line with the government's recommendation to participate in 'social distancing.' The government views this week and next as critical turning points in the spread of COVID-19.

According to the industrial sector on the 5th, since the end of last month when COVID-19 began to spread significantly in Korea, major conglomerates have been adopting remote work, flexible work hours, and actively participating in 'social distancing.' They are extending remote work and leave in line with the purpose and minimizing large gatherings within companies.

LG Group installed partitions on each table in the employee cafeteria at LG Twin Towers in Yeouido, Seoul, to prevent COVID-19 infection. Employees eat alone within separated partitions like study booths. The company also strengthened guidelines for cafeteria use. LG Group recommended through notices that employees must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before using the cafeteria and wear masks while moving inside the cafeteria. To encourage solo dining culture, take-out menus such as lunch boxes were also offered.

Samsung Electronics introduced a system that thoroughly isolates and manages employees showing symptoms such as fever and cough through online health screenings. Employees who do not submit answers to the health questionnaire must undergo face-to-face screening at the workplace entrance upon arrival. They are also advised to be cautious about using multi-use facilities and attending events involving many people during external activities. Samsung Electronics aims to prevent possible infections among workers in advance through these measures.

LG Display distributed a COVID-19 self-diagnosis app to its employees. The app allows self-surveys on whether they have had contact with confirmed or suspected cases, or symptoms such as fever or cough. All 28,000 LG Display employees check daily and submit online, and only those without abnormalities are allowed to come to work. Hanwha Group recommends active participation in social distancing through joint vacations and expanded remote work at its major affiliates. Hanwha Solutions has been conducting shift work by dividing employees into two teams since the day before and has also introduced staggered working hours. The Chemical and Advanced Materials divisions of Hanwha Solutions plan to hold joint vacations twice on Friday the 6th and 13th and are considering expanding joint vacation days to every Friday depending on the COVID-19 situation.

Doosan Group is allowing flexible commuting hours, supporting parking fees, enabling remote work for pregnant employees, and encouraging the use of family care leave until this week.

More companies are extending remote work that started at the end of last month. SK Group, which began remote work on the 25th of last month, is considering a one-week extension plan. Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, which are conducting remote work until the 6th, are also considering extension plans. Hyundai Mobis plans to continue a system of alternating remote work every other day by dividing general employees into halves until next week. LG International also decided to extend the remote work period for all employees except the minimum necessary personnel by one week beyond the original plan, operating until the 11th.

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