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business Wednesday 22 april 2020
Back to work? Companies finding it easier said than done

By MAE ANDERSON, from you, people right Above all else, executives Build-A-Bear Workshop, says the employee in ques-
TOM KRISHER and beside you." In line with will need to be flexible, said which operates 350 mostly tion was fired for violating
ANNE D'INNOCENZIO White House guidelines an- Nicholas Bloom, an eco- mall-based stores in the social-distance guidelines
AP Business Writers nounced last week, sev- nomics professor at Stan- U.S., is exploring new ways and other infractions.)
NEW YORK (AP) — As state eral states with Republican ford University. "You can to ease coronavirus fears, Many technology com-
and federal leaders tussle governors have begun have a set of plans, but such as letting families panies embraced stay-
over when and how fast to at-home policies early on,
"reopen" the U.S. economy since most of their workers
amid the coronavirus pan- can do their jobs remotely.
demic, some corporations That gives Facebook the
are taking the first steps to- luxury of requiring the vast
ward bringing their employ- majority of its employees
ees back to work. Which in to continue working from
many cases is easier said home through at least the
than done. end of May. Those who
Detroit-area automakers, can't easily return after
which suspended produc- that -- if, say, they have
tion roughly a month ago, no good childcare options
are pushing to restart fac- -- can continue to work re-
tories as states like Michi- motely at least through the
gan prepare to relax their summer.
stay-at-home orders. Fiat But some high-tech firms
Chrysler has already an- are in a bigger hurry. An-
nounced a May 4 gradual drei Taraschuk, a software
restart date; General Mo- engineer who works for
tors and Ford don't want to the chip maker Broadcom
be left behind. in Broomfield, Colorado,
In negotiations with the said employees learned
United Auto Workers union, at a town hall meeting Fri-
automakers are offering to day that they would be re-
provide protective gear, quired to go into the office
frequently sanitize equip- In this March 18, 2020 file photo, a visitor walks in an empty hallway at The Fashion Mall at Keystone one week out of every four
ment, and to take worker in Indianapolis. starting April 27.
temperatures to prevent Associated Press. According to Taraschuk,
anyone with a fever from the company told workers
entering factories. These restoring access to public those plans are going to make appointments so they would be randomly
steps, they say, have spaces -- not just beaches have to be updated on a they can customize and assigned to new groups,
worked at repurposed fac- and parks, but in states like rolling basis," he said. "The stuff their own plush toys not their existing teams,
tories now making medical Georgia, hair salons, gyms, forecast is incredibly uncer- without strangers around, and that their attendance
equipment. bowling alleys, restaurants tain." said founder and former would be monitored via
Matt Himes, who installs and movie theaters as well. Retailers, restaurants and CEO Maxine Clark. badge checks.
SUV doors at a GM plant Health officials fear that mall operators are looking It's also giving its workers The company would give
in Spring Hill, Tennessee, such moves, if not care- at China's experience to masks that feature bears them face masks, gloves
said he's ready to get back fully planned, could fuel a see how they can reopen so they won't be scary for and temperature checks.
to work. But he also fears second wave of COVID-19 stores, said Meghann Mar- children. Those who refused to come
catching the virus. infections. Some compa- tindale, global head of re- Amazon, which drew sharp in would have the option
"I guess we all should wor- nies that never closed offer search at CBRE, a real es- criticism for firing an em- of not working for up to 90
ry about it, but you can't a cautionary tale: Meat- tate services firm. Malls, for ployee who led a walkout days without pay.
keep us closed down forev- packing plants across the instance, probably won't to demand greater coro- "We've been working from
er," said Himes, who added Midwest have reported open food courts and big navirus protection for work- home for weeks," Taraschuk
that it's impossible to keep hundreds of coronavirus play areas for children for a ers, now says it is develop- told The Associated Press
social distance on his as- cases among their tight- while, and shopping com- ing an internal lab that in an interview. "It's bizarre.
sembly line. ly quartered workforces. plexes will likely limit the could potentially provide We write software."
"You work within 3 or 4 Several have shuttered in number of entrances to coronavirus tests for all em- Broadcom did not reply to
feet from everybody," he an attempt to stem the control the flow of custom- ployees, even those with- a detailed request for com-
said. "People right across spread. ers. out symptoms. (Amazon ment. q

Starbucks introducing plant-based food and drinks in China

By DEE-ANN DURBIN tein. It's the first time Beyond Meat cently pulled Beyond Meat break- containers — are part of its plan
AP Business Writer products are being sold in China. fast sausage off its menu because to cut its carbon emissions in half
Starbucks is introducing plant- Beyond Meat shares jumped it was a poor seller. by 2030.
based food and drinks in China nearly 7% in afternoon trading Starbucks is also introducing in The company is also phasing out
as part of a decade-long effort to Tuesday. China oat milk beverages from plastic straws at its 4,100 stores in
reduce the environmental impact But the El Segundo, California- Oatly, a Swedish brand, and noo- China. It has said that about 95%
of its offerings. The Seattle-based based company has had a mixed dle bowls made with OmniPork, a of the stores have reopened af-
coffee chain on Tuesday began record at fast food outlets. KFC pork substitute from a company ter being shuttered during the
selling lasagna, pasta and a wrap said in January that it was ex- based in Hong Kong. country's coronavirus outbreak,
filled with Beyond Meat grounds, panding a U.S. test of Beyond Starbucks says the new products although many have limited hours
which are made from pea pro- Meat chicken. But Tim Hortons re- — which are sold in recyclable and reduced seating.q