After reports of Covid-19 positive cases, Unacademy allows WFH for all in 2020

Unacademy has extended the work from the home facility for all staff till January 1, 2021. The Bengaluru-based startup has become one of the few firms which have announced work from home for the entire workforce for the next four-five months.

Earlier in May, Unacademy had announced that 60% of its 1000-workforce would be allowed to work from home permanently even after lifting of coronavirus-induced lockdown. The company’s co-founder and CEO Gaurav Munjal confirmed the development to Entrackr.

The decision comes soon after 20 Unacademy’s staff allegedly tested Covid-19 positive. According to our sources, the company announced remote work to avoid gathering of employees and contain the spread of coronavirus among its employees.

Over the past few days, posts on social media have been claiming that on May 31, Munjal had made a mandatory office for core team members on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Other departments such as product, marketing, finance, video were asked to join the office on a designated day every week.

A month later, Unacademy limited the mandatory work from the office to the core team and a few other departments for two days.

Some posts on Twitter also claimed that staff were pushed by management to come to the office. However, Munjal denied it. “While our offices remain shut, some senior leaders voluntarily opt to come in for meetings. They have encouraged their teams to continue to WFH, so the claim about pushing staff to come in is untrue,” he tweeted on Saturday.

As the deadly pandemic continues to pose a severe threat to infection, the work from the home culture has been the only option for businesses across all shapes and sizes. Growth-stage companies such as Spinny had made work from home for over 80% of its employees forever. Bengaluru-based Springrole had cancelled office lease and implemented work from home policy permanently.