"Back Home" Distribution Companies Close Doors and Expand Remote Work

Distribution Companies Strengthen Quarantine Measures Amid Signs of COVID-19 Third Wave Surge

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Hye-seon] The distribution industry has stepped up quarantine measures amid the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). This is because simultaneous outbreaks of cluster infections in daily life, such as multi-use facilities, workplaces, schools, and gatherings, are showing signs of a 'third wave.'

According to the distribution industry on the 20th, distribution companies such as department stores, home shopping, convenience stores, and duty-free shops have started telecommuting and flexible work in line with the implementation of social distancing level 1.5.

Hanwha Galleria is proactively implementing work guidelines equivalent to social distancing level 2 to prevent the spread of infection and protect employee health. First, until the 27th, they will minimize attendance by telecommuting for two or more days. Depending on the work schedule, individuals will telecommute for 2 to 5 days (on weekdays). Galleria plans to extend the modified work guidelines depending on the situation. Lotte Shopping has expanded telecommuting from once a week to twice a week. Meeting rooms are operated with restrictions, and face-to-face reporting is minimized. Events inviting more than 100 people, such as customer invitation exhibitions, are also prohibited. Hyundai Department Store is implementing telecommuting for all employees until the end of this month due to confirmed cases in its headquarters.

Convenience store Seven Eleven will conduct three-shift telecommuting for headquarters employees for two weeks. Lotte Duty Free will have 25% of all headquarters employees telecommuting for two weeks. Domestic business trips and gatherings are also prohibited.

Lotte Home Shopping, which had been conducting telecommuting once a week, now has all employees telecommuting except essential personnel preparing broadcasts. GS Home Shopping, where confirmed cases occurred, stopped live broadcasts from the 16th and switched all employees to telecommuting. They plan to decide on next week's attendance based on the situation. CJ O Shopping has been telecommuting since February when COVID-19 began to spread rapidly. Recently, as the spread of COVID-19 is increasing again, CJ O Shopping has strengthened employee behavior guidelines. If face-to-face work is unavoidable and employees must come to the office, entry is allowed only after facial recognition temperature checks, and masks must be worn at all times. Also, offline meetings must strictly limit attendees to fewer than 10 people. Eating at external restaurants is prohibited.

Meanwhile, on the 20th, the number of new domestic COVID-19 cases was 363. This is the first time in three months since August 21-23, when the 'second wave' centered in the metropolitan area was at its peak, that the number of confirmed cases has been in the 300s for three consecutive days. Since the first confirmed case in Korea on January 20, after 305 days, the cumulative confirmed cases have exceeded 30,000, and deaths have surpassed 500. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, in a public address at the Government Seoul Office on the same day, said, "The recent spread of COVID-19 is intensifying, and once again 'K-quarantine' is facing a crisis," urging, "Please refrain as much as possible from various gatherings planned for the end of the year and stay at home as much as possible except for essential activities."

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