Amazon, Seattle’s biggest employer, says in-person work for office employees won’t resume until 2022 – By Alec Regimbal (Seattle P-I) / Aug 5 2021
Amid a surge of new coronavirus cases across Washington, Amazon has extended its return-to-office date for workers until early next year.
Office employees are now scheduled to return to in-person work on Jan. 3, 2022. They were originally slated to return the week of Sept. 7.
The company has not confirmed that the extension came in response to a spike in COVID infections statewide, but the announcement was made just days after the state Department of Health said Washington is averaging 1,500 new cases per day and hospitalizations are up 20% since last week.
Amazon has also stayed mum on whether it will require its employees to be vaccinated against COVID. Microsoft, the company’s Redmond-based rival, announced earlier this week that it would require its employees to be vaccinated when they return to the office. Amazon currently requires that unvaccinated employees wear masks.
