Microsoft will pay hourly workers regular wages even if their hours are reduced because of COVID-19 concerns

As more COVID-1 9 examples are identified in the United Regime, some corporations are asking employees to work from residence if possible. But that impacts the jobs of people who work in on-site activities, including many who are paid by the hour. Today Microsoft said that it will be pursued compensating all dealer hourly “providers ” in Puget Sound and Northern California their normal wage, even if their work hour are reduced.

The announcement exclusively refers to Microsoft craftsmen in the Puget Sound region and Northern California, but the company said it will “[ explore] how to best move forward in a similar way in other parts of the country and the world that are impacted by COVID-1 9.”

In a blog announce, Microsoft president Brad Smith wrote that employees in those regions who can work from home have been asked to do so.

” As a ensue, we have reduced need in those regions for the on-site presence of many of the hourly workers who are vital to our daily operations, such as individuals who work for our marketers and staff members our coffeehouses, drive our shuttles and substantiate our on-site tech and audio-visual needs ,” he said.” We recognize the rigour that lost work can mean for hourly employees. As a result, we’ve decided that Microsoft will continue to pay all our marketer hourly service providers their regular liquidate during this period of reduced busines needs .”

Smith computed,” While the work to protect public health needs to speed up, the economy can’t afford to slow down. We’re committed as a company to starting pubic state our first priority and doing what we can to address the economic and social impact of COVID-1 9. We appreciate that what’s affordable for a large employer may not be affordable for a small business, but we believe that large employers who can afford to make these kinds of gradation should consider doing so .”

Microsoft is among several tech fellowships that have asked employees in places where COVID-1 9 disputes have been identified to work from dwelling, like Washington state and California, including Google, Lyft and Square. Concerns about the COVID-1 9 have also led to the cancellations of important event, like Mobile World Congress and Google’s I/ O make conference.