What you need to know
- Microsoft wanted to reopen its offices in July.
- That date has now been pushed back to September.
- Even the September date could see delays.
Microsoft isn't reopening its offices anytime soon. A Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge the following:
Based on our continued consultation with health and data experts, we've shifted our earliest date for the full opening of our U.S. worksites to September 7, 2021. We continue to review the situation on a local basis in each region/country/state where we work and will adjust dates by country as needed.
That's a big shift from Microsoft's original plans to fully reopen in July. And as that spokesperson's comments highlight, September isn't a guarantee. Many places in the United States still might not be primed for proper reopenings by then.
That's not to say all of Microsoft's offices are devoid of personnel. On March 29th, Microsoft started a soft repopulation of its headquarters, moving from "stage 3" to "stage 4" of its overall hybrid workplace strategy. The various stages are outlined in a handy-dandy infographic supplemented by a lot of additional information over on Microsoft's blog (opens in new tab).
Microsoft's eagerness to reopen its campus is understandable. A lot of people are tired of using their best office chairs and coffee tables to do work from home. Many folks no longer want to rely on the webcam of a Dell XPS 15 to see their coworkers. And companies like Microsoft know these things. However, safety comes first, at least until September.
