About In-Office Work

IAPE is aware of yesterday’s email delivered to all News Corp staff, “A Note From Robert Thomson” under the subject line, “An Update on In-Office Work.” We especially note this section:

“I am asking the heads of our businesses to consult with their managers, and ultimately all of you, to ensure full compliance with in-office work schedules, so that what exists in theory happens in practice. Those schedules will evolve in coming weeks, but the net result must be that more people return more frequently to our offices. Attendance is an absolute imperative as collaboration and cooperation are priorities for each of our businesses.”

Under the terms of the negotiated agreement between IAPE and Dow Jones, “If any departmental plan is implemented or changed to require in-office work and/or to require more days per week/month of in-office work, the Company will provide employees and the union with not less than 45-days’ notice.”

No such notice has been provided to the union.

Currently, “full compliance with in-office work schedules” means reporting to the office on the number of days required by business unit plans negotiated with the union. Nothing more.

Finally, we question the timing of yesterday’s memo from Mr. Thomson, considering that management in the Washington bureau sent the following message to all staff this week: “With this particularly contagious form of Covid going around, we have seen an uptick in bureau colleagues testing positive. Please test yourself regularly before coming to the office; thanks.”

If you have questions about your in-office working requirements, please contact IAPE.