Employees weigh in on remote work policies and their health impact

AMMAN — In light of recent developments regarding COVID-19, several companies and NGOs around the Kingdom have begun remote work as a preventive measure to protect workers. 

One coding company in Amman announced to its employees that it has been preparing for the possibility of all staff working from home since the end of February, employee Yousef Kamal told The Jordan Times on Monday.

Kamal said the company advised all its branches worldwide to work from home if they are able to, noting that once the number of employees at the office decreases, those who prefer to work on-site can coordinate with their superiors. 

The company provided its employees with links on best practices for protecting themselves from the virus while working from home, Kamal said, noting that employees were even permitted to take office computers home as needed. 

Another programming company in Amman gave its employees the option of working from home, urging them to keep an open line of communication if they choose to do so, according to one employee, Eyas Mahmoud. 

“They did not force anyone to work either from the office or from home — they said it is our choice — and I think it is better if everyone who can work from home does so to keep their families safe, because it limits interaction,” Mahmoud told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

“At such times, our safety directly affects the safety of our families. And as a father of a toddler, I really appreciate this health and safety decision,” the company’s manager told the employees, according to Mahmoud. 

A global NGO with a branch in Amman gave its employees an indefinite work-from-home period for staff members who are able to perform their duties from their residences, employee Mazen Wajdi told The Jordan Times. 

“There are staff members who cannot perform their duties at home, and for those, measures of social distancing have been implemented,” Wajdi said, adding that cleaning materials of all sorts have been provided to them.

“I usually would rather work at the office and working at home makes me fidgety, but I understand my role and my responsibility towards keeping others safe — and myself of course — so I am glad our companies and NGOs understand how serious the situation is,” Wajdi added.