Walmart sent a memo to all its corporate associates asking them to return to work on Friday.
The retailer didn't disclose whether this change was mandatory.
According to Donna Morris, Walmart's chief people officer, the transition will take place on November 8.
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Walmart requested corporate associates to come back to the office next month. It stated in a note that "there is no substitute for being in the office together."
The company posted a note on its website stating that associates working in company's campus offices would return to work on November 8, as part of a new, more flexible way to work after being unable to operate remotely for most coronavirus pandemics. According to the note, the company's Global Tech team will still work remotely.
A spokesperson for Walmart told Insider that Walmart's return in-person work will differ by region. Walmart's Global Tech team will work remotely while expectations for associates will differ.
"Given that all campus associates have been fully vaccinated in November or have received an approved accommodation, we will transition into working together in our campus office on a more frequent basis starting the week beginning Nov. 8, said Donna Morris, Chief People Officer. She added that there is no substitute for being together in the offices.
This move comes as companies wrestle with whether to make it mandatory that employees who have moved to remote work 18 months ago during the pandemic lockdown, return to work. Many workers said that they wouldn't return to work full-time if the decision was made. Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google parent Alphabet Inc.) said this week that the company would adopt a hybrid model. Amazon announced this month that it will allow corporate employees to work remotely indefinitely.
Walmart required that all corporate employees be vaccinated in July. Insider reported that employees had until October 4th to be vaccinated. Walmart was the first major retailer that required certain employees to be vaccinated.
Insider was told by a Walmart spokesperson that they continue to put safety and health first during the ongoing pandemic. They also know vaccines are crucial to fight the virus. "We will continue to focus our energy on serving our members and customers, and supporting our associates and not where the work is being done."
