Oakland Kaiser Permanente advises workers to stay inside

OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) – Kaiser Permanente is urging some of its Oakland employees to stay inside due to increased security concerns. That means having meetings only in certain buildings and not leaving the office for lunch.

KRON4 learned employees within several departments at Kaiser Permanente’s national Oakland headquarters received emails advising them to bring lunches to work and stay inside the facility rather than venture out into the community.

Kaiser Permanente issued this statement to KRON4:

“In response to the current crime environment affecting all businesses and the entire community of Oakland, as well as other communities across the country, we continue to provide guidance to keep employees as safe as possible.”

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Kaiser Permanente employee Carmen says she has worked at the medical center off Broadway in Oakland for several decades.

“I didn’t get the email,” she said. “I assumed it was for the Franklin employees, they don’t have the security situation that we do.”

A Kaiser patient in town for an appointment declined to go on camera but shared her feelings about the email sent out and the city.

“I feel better in the Piedmont area,” she said. “I try and not walk the streets as well as possible.”

KRON4 reached out to Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao about the steps Kaiser is taking. Her office issued this statement:

“Mayor Thao regularly collaborates with business leaders on our shared vision of promoting safe and thriving Oakland.  Kaiser is a valued employer and partner in addresssing community safety.”

The mayor also added that progress is being made with a recent reduction in property crime.

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