Amid the coronavirus pandemic, millions of employees have been shut out of their offices and required to work from home. The massive change has many companies evaluating what they can do to make the transition smoother for their workers.
One growing answer: a home-office fund. Companies are paying for their remote employees’ desks, chairs and computers and are instituting regular allowances for WiFi and phone costs.
E-commerce company Shopify announced in March that it would give its newly remote employees $1,000 to set up their new home office. Teleworkers at Twitter will get up to $1,000 for the same purpose.
Also in March, job marketplace Indeed said it would reimburse its employees up to $500 for standing desks, chairs or lighting in their home. Basecamp, a software company headquartered in Chicago, offers workers $1,000 to get their work station up and running at home, and online textbook company Chegg pays its remote workers’ monthly internet bill and gives them $500 for home office furnishings.
“Companies are saying, ’We want to make sure you’re both comfortable and productive,” said Danielle Lackey, chief legal officer at Motus, a workforce management company.
Questions:
1.Do you agree companies to help their employees to work from home?
2.What is the impact on the financial performance of the companies?
3.Are the employees mentally better off?
