As news media outlets have put forth vaccine requirements for their employees, some are now asking them to return to their offices after over a year and a half of working remotely.
The Daily Beast reports that G/O Media, which includes Gizmodo, Jezebel, The Onion, and several other notable sites, asked its employees to return to its offices on Monday; however, many didn’t show up.
A spokesperson for G/O Media confirmed to The Daily Beast that “clearly a few did indeed stay away,” but “on balance it was a very good showing.” Furthermore, the media outlet states that they have been transparent with their request to have employees return to their office.
G/O Media is taking all the safety precautions, including requiring vaccinations and providing a rotating work-from-home schedule. Nonetheless, the reason for asking its staff to return is due to performance issues.
The Daily Beast obtained a note stating that a return to physical office spaces would be necessary to improve the company’s performance.
“Without question the company as a whole performed admirably during the depths of the pandemic but just as clearly coming together in our respective work locations will allow us to be much better,” the letter asserted.
“The pandemic has taken a toll on everyone, everywhere. It is time to move forward with our lives. The company is focused first on our employee’s well-being. It is also focused on building a better company. We feel strongly that our plans allow us to do both.”
However, a letter signed by 80 employees communicated concerns regarding a return-to-office mandate. Also, the staff claimed that there had been no dip in performance over the past several years of remote work and detailed that breakthrough cases of COVID-19 “remain a serious concern to even vaccinated unit members.”
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
