Microsoft Will Reopen Redmond Headquarters Later This Month
REDMOND, WA — After two years in a hybrid work model, Microsoft will fully reopen its offices and facilities by the end of the month, citing improving COVID-19 metrics and strong vaccination rates across King County.
The tech giant, which employs more than 50,000 people in Washington, announced its latest transition plans Monday, targeting Feb. 28 to begin the final phase of its six-step return to work framework at its Redmond headquarters and California offices, followed by other worksites across the United States.
Employees will have a month from that date to adjust and finalize personal working preferences with their managers, the company said. The reopening will bring all of Microsoft's Puget Sound facilities back to full operation, including on-campus services and the Connector ride-share program.
Chris Capossela, Microsoft's Chief Marketing Officer, outlined the plans and the company's latest thinking in a blog post Monday morning.
"There are several important factors we consider when determining if a work site is ready to fully open, including the burden of COVID-19 in the area and community vaccination rates. As of Feb. 8, 2022, 83.8% of eligible King County residents – where most of our Washington state employees live – have completed their vaccine series, and 91.6% have received at least one dose. These high vaccination rates, along with declining hospitalizations and deaths in the state, are part of what enables us to move to this stage of our hybrid work journey. In addition, we ensure that established local testing solutions are in place and that we’re aligned to all government guidance for businesses like ours."
Moving forward, Capossela said Microsoft would continue utilizing flexible scheduling options among various teams and roles, allowing for some remote work to continue, with plans also in place to adjust course should the pandemic take another unexpected turn.
Microsoft's Bay Area campus will follow the same schedule, followed by its other facilities across the nation.
More information is available on the official Microsoft blog.
This article originally appeared on the Redmond Patch
