Amazon extends work from home option until June 2021

Amazon.com Inc to allow its employees to work from home until June 2021 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

“Employees who work in a role that can effectively be done from home are welcome to do so until June 30, 2021”, an Amazon spokeswoman said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.

The world’s largest online retailer had earlier allowed its workers globally the option to work from home until January 2021.

Amazon had recently come under fire from unions and officials for keeping warehouses open during the pandemic, prompting safety concerns.

“We have invested significant funds and resources to keep those who choose to come to the office safe through physical distancing, deep cleaning, temperature checks, and by providing face coverings and hand sanitizer,” the spokeswoman added.

The announcement comes less than three weeks after reports emerged that more than 19,000 U.S. frontline workers had contracted the coronavirus this year.

In May, Twitter Inc had allowed its employees to work from home indefinitely, becoming the first major tech company to do so.

Other tech giants have also decided to make working remotely a permanent part of their workplace culture to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Microsoft Corp had earlier this month said its employees will be allowed to work from home for less than half of their work week.

Facebook Inc had also allowed its employees to work from home till July next year, while Google employees who do not need to be in the office can work remotely until June.

According to Gallup data, thirty-three percent of the American labour force is currently working from home full-time.