"Is the Life Without Remote Work and Company Dinners Over?"... Worried Employees Facing the Approaching 'With Corona' Era

Office Workers Ahead of With Corona: "Company Dinners Are a Burden..." "Worried About Breakthrough Infections"
Experts: "With Corona Does Not Mean Returning to Pre-COVID-19 Times"
"If Necessary, Continue Remote Work and Avoid Gatherings"

Office workers having a company dinner. Photo by Getty Images Bank

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Starting from the 1st of next month, as the quarantine system transitions to 'gradual daily recovery (With Corona),' office workers are expressing dissatisfaction, saying they are not entirely happy due to the suspension of remote work and the increase in company dinners. They are accustomed to non-face-to-face lifestyles, and there are concerns that the number of confirmed cases may rise as year-end and New Year’s parties and gatherings increase.

Experts suggest that With Corona does not mean returning to the pre-COVID-19 era, and if necessary, remote work should be maintained and gatherings such as company dinners should be restrained.

Jo, a worker in his 20s who recently completed vaccination, said, "From the 1st of next month, the company is asking everyone to come to the office," adding, "I have been working remotely since September last year and have adapted to this lifestyle for over a year, so honestly, going to the office every day feels burdensome."

Jo also said, "There are a few company dinner schedules next month. Although I have been vaccinated, there are breakthrough infection cases, and I am still worried about gatherings with many people. If someone says, 'You got vaccinated, so why worry?' I can’t really argue, so I think I will have to attend."

According to the 'Gradual Daily Recovery Implementation Plan' announced by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on the 29th, With Corona will be implemented in three stages. From the 1st of next month, when Stage 1 is applied, all facilities except entertainment venues can operate 24 hours, and private gatherings of up to 10 people in the metropolitan area and 12 people in non-metropolitan areas are allowed regardless of vaccination status.

However, unvaccinated individuals can only gather up to four people in restaurants and cafes. Entertainment venues can operate until midnight and will apply the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (vaccine pass).

Stage 1 will be implemented for four weeks from November 1st, followed by a two-week evaluation period. If there are no sudden variables such as a surge in confirmed cases, Stage 2 will begin on December 13th, and Stage 3 will start on January 24th next year, with quarantine measures gradually relaxed.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Office workers who have not yet been vaccinated are equally worried about the implementation of With Corona. Kim, a worker in his 30s who is unvaccinated, said, "I haven’t been vaccinated, so it’s awkward to say I will continue working remotely alone or that I won’t attend company dinners. It’s uncomfortable and I feel pressured in many ways," adding, "It’s good that quarantine measures are being relaxed with With Corona, but the overall atmosphere seems to be shifting to one where it’s okay to drink and party like before, which worries me."

Recently, many posts expressing dissatisfaction with company dinners have been posted on 'Blind,' an anonymous community for office workers. Netizens expressed concerns such as, "I don’t mind company dinners, but I wish people wouldn’t pressure those who don’t attend," "There are still many confirmed cases, so group dinners seem inappropriate," and "I had more personal time with remote work, but that seems to be ending now."

On the other hand, some office workers say company dinners are necessary to improve awkward colleague relationships and communication difficulties caused by prolonged non-face-to-face activities. Lee, 34, who works in Seoul, said, "Due to remote work, I haven’t even seen the face of a new employee who joined in May. Since we don’t know each other well, sometimes it’s frustrating when opinions don’t get communicated well during work," and added that some level of company dinners and gatherings are necessary.

Experts emphasize that even with the implementation of With Corona, it does not mean returning to life before COVID-19.

Professor Eom Jung-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said, "Even if we transition to With Corona, it cannot completely change to life before COVID-19," explaining, "The goal is to gradually resolve the inconveniences caused by social distancing, and during this process, whether confirmed cases surge rapidly or increase slowly, they will definitely rise."

He continued, "Even under the With Corona system, remote work should be implemented if necessary, and gatherings such as company dinners should be somewhat restrained," emphasizing, "Relaxing quarantine inevitably causes damage and leads to social and economic losses. It is important to make appropriate decisions on when to stop the With Corona strategy and reintroduce quarantine measures to minimize damage."

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