Netflix Won’t Return To Offices Until A Vaccine Is Approved

While many companies are embracing work from home and considering it to still be an option even after the pandemic, Netflix’s co-CEO Reed Hastings doesn’t seem to be a fan.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Hastings was asked if he sees any benefits of remote work. His answer was very straightforward. “No. I don’t see any positives,” Hastings stated. “Not being able to get together in person, particularly internationally, is a pure negative.” 

Despite wanting to get back into the office as soon as possible, Hastings doesn’t see that happening until there is a vaccine. In fact, his time frame doesn’t seem to differ too much from other huge Silicon Valley firms. Facebook and Google extended their work from home policy until mid-summer 2021. Tech giant Apple also previously mentioned that its employees won’t be returning to offices until early 2021.

“Twelve hours after a vaccine is approved” is when employees will return to the Netflix offices, Hastings jokingly said. Afterwards, he reassured that offices will most likely reopen six months after a vaccine is approved. “Once we can get a majority of people vaccinated, then it’s probably back in the office,” he stated. While nobody knows when a vaccine will actually be approved, we could only assume this will be some time in 2021. So, I guess we will have to wait and see, as only time will tell.