"Return to Remote Work, Year-End Gathering Restrictions Amid COVID Resurgence: Companies on Alert"

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyewon and Kim Heungsun] Amid the third wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), companies are facing an emergency quarantine posture to avoid a chain shutdown as confirmed cases among employees surge. They are rapidly switching to work-from-home and remote work systems, and have even issued orders to refrain from personal year-end gatherings in compliance with social distancing rules.

According to the business community on the 19th, major companies including Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, and LG, where confirmed COVID-19 cases have emerged this week, have effectively raised their internal COVID-19 response manuals to level 2 and are tightening quarantine measures.

Starting with confirmed cases among employees working at Hyundai-Kia Motors Namyang Technology Research Center and SK E&S employees at SK’s headquarters in Seorin Building on the 17th, this week alone, confirmed cases have been reported at Samsung Electronics Suwon Mobile Research Center, LG Electronics Seocho R&D Campus, and SK Innovation.

Following quarantine authorities’ guidelines, companies have conducted disinfection and quarantine operations in buildings where confirmed cases occurred, immediately closed the floors where the infected employees worked, and sent the remaining employees home.

The corporate COVID-19 response clock seems to have turned back to the first and second waves. First, the ratio of work-from-home and remote work has been increased. Samsung Electronics’ COVID-19 response task force (TF) began a second pilot operation of work-from-home for hopeful employees in the Consumer Electronics (CE) and IT & Mobile (IM) divisions starting from the 16th. The duration is flexible depending on the COVID-19 situation but is likely to be prolonged. LG Electronics also expanded the proportion of remote work for office workers from 20% to 30%. Hanwha Group is implementing a combination of flexible work and work-from-home except for essential personnel. Most companies recommend work-from-home for pregnant employees.

IT companies such as telecommunications, portals, and gaming are even more proactive. Kakao started full work-from-home for all headquarters employees five days a week from today. Naver has maintained a rotational work system since the 19th of last month, working from home three days a week and coming to the office two days a week. Among mobile carriers, LG Uplus has implemented work-from-home since the 17th. According to internal policies, all employees are divided into three groups, with about 3,000 employees working from home. LG HelloVision operates work-from-home while keeping the number of employees at work below 50%. Some pharmaceutical companies also plan to switch to full work-from-home depending on the COVID-19 spread trend.

Orders to refrain from domestic and international business trips and bans on company dinners or group training sessions have reappeared. When meetings are necessary, the number of participants is limited to about 10 to 20 people depending on each company. POSCO has suspended the operation of multi-use facilities inside and outside the company, such as business halls and sports facilities, since the day before.

Hyundai Motor Group and others strictly prohibit external visitors from entering office buildings. Contact with outsiders is encouraged to be through non-face-to-face methods such as written communication, video conferencing, messenger, or email. They are paying attention to hygiene environments by operating two-shift dining, delivery lunchbox services, banning the use of shared plates, and installing partitions in shared spaces. GS Group is also utilizing staggered commuting and staggered lunch hours.

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