"Company Dinners During COVID-19?" Eased Social Distancing Brings Gatherings and Drinking... Office Workers Struggle

Social Distancing Level 1, End of Remote Work... Some Office Workers Troubled by Requests for Gatherings
6 out of 10 Office Workers Say "Due to COVID-19, More Team Members Avoid Gatherings"
Health Authorities Urge "All Members of Society to Follow Prevention Rules in Their Own Positions"

Office workers are clinking their glasses together / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] "Does having a company dinner make sense in this situation?", "I can't not go, so it's stressful."

As social distancing measures were eased to Level 1, some companies have been holding company dinners and other workplace drinking gatherings. This has raised concerns about a possible resurgence of COVID-19. Office workers are complaining that they have no choice but to participate in these drinking events. Health authorities have emphasized the need to remain vigilant about cluster outbreaks even under Level 1 distancing.

The government downgraded the social distancing level to Level 1 starting from the 12th. Accordingly, companies that had implemented flexible work arrangements such as staggered commuting or remote work are lifting these measures and gradually returning to normal office attendance.

According to industry sources, Hyundai Motor Group plans to switch from voluntary remote work, which was only applied to office workers at headquarters, back to normal attendance. S-Oil has also returned to normal office attendance this week as the spread of COVID-19 has eased. Additionally, Hyosung Group and Kolon Group, which had adopted voluntary remote work, lifted remote work before the Chuseok holiday.

Meanwhile, some office workers are expressing stress due to their supervisors forcing them to attend company dinners. Although there is a growing atmosphere of refraining from company dinners due to the COVID-19 situation, some companies or departments are still pushing ahead with these gatherings.

Earlier survey results showed that events such as company dinners have been restrained due to the spread of COVID-19. According to a survey conducted by the job portal Incruit in February targeting 661 office workers, events where many people gather were canceled or refrained from in the following order: company dinners (20.3%), internal meetings (16.3%), product launches and events (13.8%).

Footage from a company dinner/Photo by Yonhap News

However, with the easing to Level 1 social distancing, such measures are gradually decreasing. Office workers who have ended remote work and returned to the office are facing concerns about COVID-19 infection due to frequent drinking gatherings and are also in a difficult position as they cannot refuse to attend.

Office worker A (29), who said they had been doing remote work every other week but started normal attendance last week, shared, "Over two weeks, I had multiple company dinners for lunch and dinner. Since these are calls from senior colleagues or supervisors, I can't say no, so it's awkward."

A added, "If I say I can't go because I'm worried about COVID-19, people will definitely treat me as a sensitive person. I wish there was an internal notice banning company dinners and small gatherings."

Since daily COVID-19 cases are fluctuating in the double digits, there are concerns that cluster infections could occur at such company dinners. Because COVID-19 spreads through droplets and close contact, the risk of transmission increases at drinking gatherings where people sit close together, talk, and toast.

Office worker B (26) said, "We received a notice that remote work will continue until the end of this month and normal attendance will start next month. As soon as the notice was issued, the team leader scheduled a company dinner for next month," raising their voice, "It seems like there is no sense of urgency even though the pandemic is not over."

B added, "I don't understand why people think they won't get infected. It's an infectious disease, so nothing is certain. If someone gets infected at a company dinner, work will obviously be disrupted. I hope people understand the situation properly."

Other countries are implementing strict restrictions such as banning indoor and outdoor parties. The Italian government announced details of a new COVID-19 administrative order on the 13th (local time). According to this, all private parties held indoors and outdoors are prohibited, and dinners or gatherings at home with more than six external guests should be avoided. Also, wearing masks at home is recommended when with external guests such as friends or relatives.

Meanwhile, health authorities repeatedly emphasized compliance with quarantine rules to citizens.

On the 13th, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), said at a regular briefing at the Disease Control Headquarters in Cheongju, Chungbuk, "There is still a latent possibility of cluster outbreaks centered in the metropolitan area," urging people to follow quarantine rules.

Deputy Director Kwon said, "This is a situation that requires vigilance. With the nationwide adjustment to Level 1 social distancing, I once again emphasize the need for voluntary and responsible compliance with quarantine rules by all citizens. The current suppression of large-scale outbreaks and the adjustment to Level 1 is possible because of the voluntary and responsible adherence to quarantine rules by the public, so I ask everyone to continue to make compliance with quarantine rules a part of daily life."

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