Expecting the virus to be under control by Labor Day, many employers had hoped to bring white-collar workers back to the office next month, the Wall Street Journal reported. But as cases rose in dozens of states throughout the summer, major school districts settled on remote or hybrid instruction, complicating the picture for working parents. Some employers have already scuttled plans to force office workers back so soon. They include some of the country’s biggest companies. In an August survey of 15 major employers that collectively employ about 2.6 million people, 57 percent said that they had decided to postpone their back-to-work plans because of recent increases in COVID-19 cases. Nearly half said they were putting in additional safety measures for when they reopen, such as redesigned workspaces and temperature checks. Only one respondent said the summer surge of infections hadn’t affected its timeline or plans for bringing workers back. The survey was conducted by the Pacific Business Group on Health, whose members include Boeing Co., Salesforce.com Inc. and Lowe’s Cos.
