Microsoft To Reopen Offices By The End Of February

Microsoft has announced that it will move forward with its hybrid work model, bringing workers back into the office by the end of February. 

As another wave of Covid-19 dissipates, the company has determined it is safe to reopen its Washington headquarters and other locations starting February 28. From then, employees will have 30 days to adjust to their new work arrangement that has been agreed upon with their managers. 

Microsoft is just one of many tech giants that has had to routinely delay its office reopening plans due to the ongoing health crisis and variants driving cases up. However, now that some regions are seeing high vaccination rates and falling cases, the company is finally committing to its long-determined hybrid work plans. 

“Throughout the pandemic, our employees have adapted to many new ways of working while helping our customers and partners navigate their own challenges,” said Chris Capossela, CMO at Microsoft. “We know there’s not a singular solution to how people work best, which is why we believe flexibility should be at the forefront of our evolving hybrid workplace.”

Microsoft also added that the reopening of locations would be dependent upon the region’s case numbers and vaccination rates. 

The company is taking its own approach to future work arrangements, allowing some workers to split their time between the office and working from home. 

Research has indicated that without providing workers with a choice in their work environment, many would look for employment elsewhere. It is still uncertain whether Microsoft’s policies are enough to retain current employees and attract new talent, but some form of flexibility will prevail over companies that reject this option.