Pharmaceuticals' dilemma over the possibility of level 3

When level 3 of social distancing is upgraded, it is obligated to work from home outside of the required manpower

Most of them are already working from home

While the government is considering level 3 of social distancing, the pharmaceutical industry is also taking countermeasures.

 

Even if level 3 of social distancing are fully implemented, most of them maintain the flexible working system as they are now.

 

However, internal discussions on the scope of essential manpower are in full swing in that it is an administrative order to work from home except for the mandatory manpower.

 

◆Executive order to work from home except for required manpower when upgrading to level 3 According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 14th, as of midnight on that day, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases was 718.

 

It decreased by 312 from 1030 the previous day.

 

The number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Korea exceeded 1,000 on the 13th as the third pandemic began in earnest.

 

The government expects the number of confirmed cases to increase to 1200 in the future.

 

The government recognizes the current situation as the biggest crisis since the outbreak of COVID-19.

 

As a final method, level 3 is also being considered.

 

Level 3 of social distancing is upgraded when the weekly average number of confirmed patients is 800-1000 or more.

 

President Moon Jae-in said at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting urgently presided on the 13th, "If we can't break the spread now, we need to review level 3.

 

If Central Disease Control Headquarters believes it is inevitable, then boldly decide to (upgrade)." The pharmaceutical industry is also tense in that an executive order is issued to allow private companies to work from home if the social distancing level is elevated.

 

Looking at the government's step-by-step measures, in level 2.5, the recommendation to work from home for more than a third of the number of employees is reinforced to mandatory work from home outside of the required manpower.

 

However, it is up to the company to decide how to set up the required manpower.

 

The number of COVID-19 confirmed patients per day.

 

With the recent surpassing 1,000, the possibility of level 3 is increasing (Source: Johns Hopkins)

◆Even now, only essential personnel are on the way to work The pharmaceutical industry is very nervous with government announcements.

 

The whole society is in 'shutdown' situation.

 

Officials on the front line are concentrating on preparing countermeasures while checking the government announcement in real time.

 

However, they are contemplating what specific measures to take.

 

Most pharmaceutical companies are already taking steps similar to level 3.

 

Even now, when level 2.5 is being applied, the rest of the workforce is working from home, except for the required manpower, so there is little to do when the social distancing into three stages is upgraded.

 

Accordingly, pharmaceutical companies are discussing the scope of mandatory manpower.

 

If the required manpower was previously team leader and a few team members, when the social distancing is upgraded, it is reduced to only team leader.

 

A representative of a domestic pharmaceutical company said, "The current company's official guidelines are Only essential personnel go to work, but in fact, the team is divided into two groups or three groups to go to work every other day.

 

If it is upgraded to level 3, only the team leader goes to work.

 

He expects the rest to go to work only in very urgent cases under the judgment of the team leader.

 

Another domestic pharmaceutical company official said, "Before the implementation of level 2.5, we have been selectively working from home.

 

Even if it is reinforced to level 3, it is not expected that the company will decide whether to go to work or stay at home according to the position or job group.

 

Under the conditions, it is decided whether to work from home, but each team leader will select the required manpower based on a tighter standard." “We are preparing separate guidelines at the company.

 

The overall direction is the same.

 

We freely decide to go to work and home in consideration of personal circumstances and work environment.

 

However, in case of upgrading to level 3, working from home is given priority.”

If it is upgraded to level 3, most salespeople are expected to convert to telecommuting

◆Production workers are inevitable However, in the case of production workers, they are essential workers, so even if they are upgraded to level 3, it is impossible to work from home.

 

another official from a domestic pharmaceutical company, said, "If the company is upgraded to level 3, all sales workers will be converted to telecommuting.

 

Researchers will also participate in telecommuting, leaving only a small number of personnel." “In the case of production workers, it takes a month or two to restart even if the factory stops operating for one day.

 

In the case of production workers, it will inevitably continue to work.

 

However, measures such as changing from the current three shifts to two shifts are under discussion." Some say that even if it is upgraded to level 3, it will remain the same as the present.

 

Mr.

 

E, an official at a domestic pharmaceutical company, said, “It is already common to work from home.

 

All sales workers are at home, and all employees in the rest of the field come to work.

 

It is difficult to further reduce the required manpower.” Another domestic company official, Mr.

 

F, said, "Officially, under the judgment of the manager, only essential personnel are instructed to go to work.

 

However, almost all of the employees are present.

 

Therefore, even if the level is raised to 3, the manager judges everyone as essential personnel.

 

If so, nothing will change from now.”