Microsoft postpones reopening of US offices indefinitely

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Microsoft Corp. is done putting a date on its return to the office and said Thursday it was postponing that decision until it was able to safely welcome employees back in accordance with public health guidelines.

The Redmond-based tech giant had originally planned for a September return. But when the Delta variant began complicating those plans for all employers, Microsoft pushed its official return date to Oct. 4.

It still intends to embrace remote work for employees, with plans to shift to a hybrid environment that emphasizes flexibility. The postponed reopening only delays that transition, allowing employees to stay remote.

Microsoft last year outlined a six-stage hybrid workplace plan. Stage four, a soft open that allows employees to work from corporate offices, began in March 2021. However, employees were still encouraged to work remotely.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2021/09/10/microsoft-postpones-office-return-covid.html

[dutch777]

1. Others will follow--- too many hard to replace workers willing to walk if they have to return

My son works for MS and the only time he goes to the office is when we physically has to work on hardware which is part of a classified government program and can't leave the secure workspace. 1/3 of his group has been poached by other tech companies in the last months. Apple will be the next one to announce similar flex options I bet. The work world has changed and the office in so many cases is now an unnecessary relic.