GEORGE TOWN: No thanks to Omicron, it’s back to work from home (WFH) for many people except those whose job scopes do not make it possible for them to do so.

       Corporate executive Mohd Hafidz Mohd Johari, 32, said about 80% of his company’s workforce were working from home.

       “We are a research and development company that also does testing.

       “Most of the staff are used to WFH and they enjoy it as they can manage both their work and families.

       “We are looking at extending WFH arrangements for the next few months because our work goes on like clockwork without any disruption even when we’re WFH.”

       Mohd Hafidz, whose company in Bayan Lepas employs 1,000 workers, said he has been WFH for almost six months – ever since he joined the multinational company.

       “I will be at the office once in a while. For now, I am comfortable with the WFH arrangements.”

       However, a multinational contract manufacturing company, which has seven plants in Penang and hires 10,000 employees, has only 15% of its employees WFH.

       The others have returned to the workplace.

       “We are a manufacturing company where workers have to be on site to support the manufacturing and operational process,” said a senior company executive.

       “Of course those who are in managing and administrative jobs can be WFH as it is a non-critical function,” he said.

       With a large number of people at the workplace, he said that a standard operating procedure is in place to prevent a surge in Covid-19 infections.

       Penang was hit with industrial clusters when 24,825 cases surged within two weeks in September last year.

       About 70% of the cases originated from workplace clusters, especially the industrial sector, due to workers from some factories being placed in one dormitory.

       Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Penang chairman Datuk Lee Teong Li said companies have begun ramping up production after the Chinese New Year holiday.

       “Workers, aside from those in finance or administration, can’t be WFH as there are critical manufacturing processes which need to continue without supply chain disruptions.”

       Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Penang chapter chairman K. Raj Kumar said it is not practical for hotel staff to be WFH.

       “We are promoting the tourism industry and will have several meetings a day.

       “All of us have to be here, especially those handling guests.

       “We understand that there is a surge of the Omicron variant, but we are more prepared now and there is no need to press the panic button,” added Raj Kumar.