Ford allows salaried employees to work from home rest of the year

Ford Motor Co. is again extending its work-from-home arrangements for US salaried workers in response to employee requests to keep working remotely during the coronavirus pandemic.

The automaker will begin surveying salaried employees June 18 to determine work arrangements for 2021, it said in a statement. For the remainder of this year, white collar workers have the option to work remotely, in the office or a combination of both, the company said.

“As we make plans to bring back the remote workforce, many team members favored these new ways to work and found them empowering, flexible and cost effective," Ford said in the statement. “This has inspired us to expand the optionality for this work arrangement beyond September."

This is the second time Ford has pushed back plans to bring salaried workers back into offices. Hourly workers returned to factories a month ago and some have tested positive for the virus, although Ford has said the contagion was contracted outside its facilities. Workers at two factories producing Ford’s top selling vehicle, the F-150 pickup, have pushed back, saying the automaker isn’t doing enough to ensure their safety.

The automaker, which has denied that safety protocols are inadequate, said delaying salaried workers’ return helps ensure there’s enough personal protective equipment for factory employees, who can’t work remotely.