A slew of tech companies are delaying office returns into next year as concerns mount over the delta variant.
Roblox, the $43 billion game maker, delayed its return to Jan. 4, 2022, from mid-September. The San Mateo company is allowing fully vaccinated workers to come in voluntarily on Sept. 13. “The company is committed to prioritizing wellness, safety, and ‘peace of mind’ and will focus on creating a safe environment where employees can do their most innovative work,” said Barbara Messing, Roblox chief marketing and people experience officer, in a statement.
Asana, a San Francisco company that makes collaboration tools, delayed its return from the fall until next February, a spokeswoman confirmed.
Uber pushed back its mandatory office reopening from September to Oct. 25, a spokesman confirmed. The company is requiring vaccinations and masked to work in offices on a voluntary basis.
CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, wrote in a memo to employees that “rising Covid cases in our communities are a real reminder that we still need to be cautious, look at the data, and listen to experts as we return to offices.”
Lyft also delayed its return until next February, the New York Times reported. Both companies will reportedly require vaccines for in-office work. Lyft didn’t immediately respond to request for comment.
The moves follow decisions by Google and Apple to each postpone mandatory returns for at least a month, until October. Twitter also took the more drastic step of closing its San Francisco and New York offices indefinitely.
More companies are requiring vaccines to work on site, including Google and Facebook’s U.S. offices. Apple’s retail stores will require masks for customers and staff. Netflix is requiring vaccines on its production sets, and the Walt Disney Company requires salaried and non-union employees to be vaccinated. The entertainment company said it was in conversation with unions about vaccinations.
Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s director of health, said on Friday a Bay Area mask mandate could return “as early as next week” as cases mount.
