Telstra and Westpac encourage staff to work from home amid rising COVID-19 wave
As COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in the community, two of Australia's biggest employers, Westpac and Telstra, are giving staff more freedom to work from home.
It comes days after chief medical officer Paul Kelly encouraged Australians to wear masks and work from home if possible.
A Westpac spokesperson said while they were not instructing employees to work from home, they were giving staff the choice.
Westpac is giving staff more freedom to work from home. AP
"Earlier this year, we introduced a green, amber, red workplace rating system to help manage our workplace amid changing health settings," the spokesperson said.
"Westpac's workplace setting is currently amber, meaning those employees who can work from home may do so, with no requirement to be in the office. Employees are still welcome to attend the office if they prefer.
"For employees who are required to attend a workplace, such as our branches, we have a range of health and safety measures in place to keep our people safe."
Telecom giant Telstra is "strongly encouraging" staff to work from home.
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Health Minister Mark Butler said the rising COVID-19 cases will put pressure of the hospital system. Nine
"We are strongly encouraging our people to work from home if they can, wear a mask when they can't socially distance, and get their booster shot if they're eligible," Telstra's Group Executive, Transformation, Communications and People, Alex Badenoch, said.
Health Minister Mark Butler rung the alarm bell on COVID-19 cases in Australia on Tuesday as the new Omicron wave, coupled with a spike in influenza cases, puts increased pressure on the hospital system.
"As of today, there are more than 5200 Australians in hospital with COVID," he said.
Butler said hospitalisations were "almost certain" to increase but said currently there are fewer people in intensive care compared to the January wave.
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