Kakao Switches Back to Remote Work System After Just Over a Month of Normal Commuting
On the 14th, a citizen is undergoing a specimen test at a temporary COVID-19 screening clinic set up near the Tongil Shopping Center in Dongdaemun, Seoul, where a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) case was confirmed. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] As the number of new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) exceeded 100 per day, showing signs of resurgence mainly in the metropolitan area, major domestic companies are strengthening their own quarantine activities by issuing 'social distancing' guidelines.
According to the business community on the 15th, Samsung Electronics' COVID-19 emergency response task force (TF) notified all employees, "Please refrain from going out as much as possible during this holiday period and stay at home." Employees who inevitably visit places where many people gather were advised to avoid close-contact, crowded, and enclosed (3Cs) spaces as much as possible and to wear masks at all times.
The day before, when a partner company employee at Samsung Electronics' Hwaseong semiconductor plant tested positive for COVID-19, all employees who may have come into contact with the confirmed employee were instructed to stay at home. A Samsung Electronics official said, "The production line is operating normally."
Since the transition to daily quarantine measures in early May, Samsung Electronics has maintained its COVID-19 prevention system without easing it. All Samsung Group affiliates conduct a weekly self-assessment every Sunday, where employees input related symptoms via mobile devices.
Hyundai Motor Group, SK Group, LG Group, and others also guided their employees to strictly follow personal quarantine and hygiene rules and to refrain from visiting crowded places due to concerns about the resurgence of COVID-19.
SK Innovation issued a ban on visiting high-risk facilities such as clubs, bars, and karaoke rooms. It also recommended refraining from using multi-use facilities and participating in small group activities such as religious gatherings.
In the case of LG Electronics, since last month, they have been operating in-house quarantine facilities in Pyeongtaek and Gumi for employees returning from overseas business trips. This is for employees who find it difficult to quarantine at home because they live with children or elderly family members.
Cheil Worldwide and Innocean, which had confirmed cases among employees last month, have since raised the level of their quarantine systems. Cheil Worldwide made mask-wearing mandatory for all employees and took measures such as limiting the number of people riding elevators. They also provide daily updates on the movements of confirmed cases to employees, so those whose paths overlap with confirmed cases can proactively stay at home.
Innocean advised employees to refrain from visiting crowded areas and to strictly follow personal quarantine guidelines such as wearing masks and hand sanitizing.
HS Ad, an advertising company affiliated with LG Group, switched to full remote work and conducted disinfection after an employee of a tenant company in the LG Mapo Building, where its headquarters is located, was confirmed positive the day before.
Kakao switched back to a remote work system after about a month of normal commuting. A Kakao official said the day before, "A confirmed case occurred in a commercial building near the Pangyo office," adding, "Since it is judged to be a nearby area closely related to the living area of Kakao crew members, we urgently switched to a full remote work system from today as a preventive measure." The duration of remote work has not been determined. Kakao started remote work from the end of February when COVID-19 began to spread and had returned to normal commuting since the 7th of last month.
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