Music Companies reconsider their office reopening strategies amidst the COVID-19 Delta variant terror

Earlier this year, the COVID-19 vaccines made their way to millions of arms with which the music companies across the industry announced their plans for reopening the offices. This had promised a return to usual business after more than a year that was largely spent on working from home.

But only a few months later, things seem to be taking a different turn altogether. The Delta variant of the COVID-19 infection has surged across the United States that has thereby forced the same music companies to reconsider their decision of reopening the businesses. They have also made vaccines mandatory for the employees. Some ten companies have been surveyed by Billboard that has pushed their full reopening from September, which is the initial target date for most of the music companies to October.

While the tech giants like Amazon and Facebook have set a target for 2022. The remaining companies like Sony Music, UMG, and Live Nation have left their full returns open-ended as they wait for the situation to unfold in the coming months.

In terms of making the vaccine mandatory, more or less half of the companies that have been surveyed have put forward a requirement for the employees to provide some sort of proof of inoculation before they return to the office. At Spotify, the decision to not make a vaccine mandate was a difficult one to make. There were internal discussions that deeply reflected on the highly polarized nature of the virus and the issue in the United States. Spotify Director of Communications, Global Markets; Eileen Moore who reportedly handles all employees and other internal communications at the company stated that it’s been hotly debated. He also added that the senior leaders in the HR team and the employees, everyone has pretty much strong feelings about it.

Moore also added that the highest global stature of the Spotify workforce that consists of 50 offices across 25 countries has made the institution of the blanket vaccine even more challenging. He added that in some countries, in some specific regions it is even illegal to do so and so they are just taking the stance that people will make good decisions.

It was earlier this month when Mayor Bill de Blasio had announced that proof of COVID-19 vaccination shall be required to enter the indoor restaurants, performance venues in the city, and the gyms starting August 16. The order however does not imply the offices.

The evolving unpredictable phase of the deadly COVID-19 virus and the rising cases of the Delta variant has forced the countries and the major big companies to make some critical decisions for the welfare of the people. The decision to mandate vaccines is yet to be pondered upon.