July 20, 2022 07:09
Two of Australia’s biggest employers, Westpac and Telstra, have told their staff to work from home as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise.
Westpac recently adjusted its threat measurement system from ‘green’ to ‘amber’, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Telstra has announced a hybrid system and advised staff to work remotely if possible.
The changes affect about 40,000 Westpac employees and about 27,000 Telstra employees.
State governments have not enforced work-from-home mandates, leaving it up to individuals and businesses to make their own decisions.
Yesterday, Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly called on “employers to allow working from home if possible” and to consider mask-wearing during the winter Omicron surge.
“We’re at the beginning of this wave, not the end,” Kelly said.
More than 5,000 Australians are currently in hospital with the virus.
