"Joined the Company, but It Feels Like Home"… Companies Disappearing by Year-End

As social distancing level 2 was announced due to the spread of COVID-19, the roads around Gwanghwamun in Seoul appeared empty on the 23rd. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporters: Park Soyeon, Lee Gimin]

# Company A recently conducted an executive reshuffle followed by an organizational restructuring, forming new teams and hiring new employees. This was a routine task usually carried out every year-end. However, this year, Company A is experiencing an unprecedented year-end. Although the personnel changes and restructuring proceeded smoothly, an absurd situation arose where newly formed team members did not even know each other's faces. Most employees are working remotely, and even the few who come to the office always wear masks, leaving no opportunity to recognize faces. A representative from Company A said, "The department head quietly asked for the names of newly assigned employees via messenger, but I couldn't answer immediately," adding, "We only communicate through messenger while blinking eyes over masks, so we have become a world where colleagues don't even know each other's faces." He lamented, "Due to the fear of COVID-19, company dinners are also banned," and expressed nostalgia, "I miss the year-end gatherings over drinks from a year ago."

# The CEO of startup Company B had early reserved the entire restaurant hall for an end-of-year party dreamed of by employees but canceled it when daily COVID-19 cases exceeded 600. Watching the recent spread of COVID-19, the CEO thought holding a year-end party was impossible. The modest dream of about ten employees gathering to shed the year's burdens and make hopeful New Year's resolutions has been postponed until next year.

With the third wave of COVID-19 leading to the Seoul metropolitan area's social distancing level being raised to 2.5 until the year-end, the atmosphere in domestic companies, which had been gradually recovering, has frozen again. Most employees work from home, turning companies into ghost towns with empty seats. Year-end parties are out of the question, and even cautiously maintained domestic client management has been completely halted. At the end of 2020, employees need executive approval to come to work, and the company dictates the types of masks to wear.

According to industry sources on the 7th, companies such as Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG, POSCO, and Hanwha are implementing quarantine guidelines at a level one step higher than the government's policy, equivalent to social distancing level 3 in some cases.

Samsung Electronics has reduced internal meetings and in-house gatherings to fewer than 10 people. They have banned bringing in outside food, and employees who visit external restaurants or cafes are subject to active monitoring for seven days. SK Innovation mandates working from home as the principle, requiring team leader and executive confirmation to come to the office. Only up to 30% of employees are allowed to work on-site, with the rest working remotely. LG Electronics has applied social distancing level 3 since the 23rd of last month, with about 70% of employees working from home. All events, group training, meetings, and company dinners are prohibited.

Hyundai Motor Company has also imposed restrictions on the masks employees wear. Instead of medical masks or KF80 and droplet masks, they strongly recommend wearing 'KF94' masks. They are currently implementing measures equivalent to social distancing level 2.5 and are considering raising the level. Since last week, more than 50% of employees have been working remotely, and external activities and company dinners are banned. The in-house gym and common areas are closed, and mobile self-health checks are mandatory during commuting. Doosan Infracore has implemented remote work for all except essential personnel operating production lines and performing minimal tasks. Entry to the workplace is prohibited except for essential personnel. Movement between domestic workplaces is also restricted, creating an unfamiliar scene.

An industry insider said, "Although personnel announcements were made last week, everyone is working remotely, so congratulatory messages are all sent via KakaoTalk and messenger calls," adding, "Even when new executives join, greetings are done by email. We worry about when we can all meet to greet and have an introductory meeting."

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