Lachlan Murdoch says most Fox workers won’t return to offices until at least September 2021

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Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said the earliest that the majority of its workers will return to the office would be Sept. 7, 2021.

Like many major employers, the company shifted most of its employee to working from home during the coronavirus pandemic, despite many of its right wing cable channel personalities downplaying the pandemic and preventative measures such as masking and the vaccine.

Some of the network stars also latched onto Trump’s prediction that the pandemic would no longer be an issue by Easter 2020.

Now, as Easter 2021 approaches and the network was tentatively scheduled to return its workforce to the office, that plan has been pushed until at least after Labor Day.

Like most broadcasters, only select personnel are being permitted into the network facilities — including select talent and behind the scenes crew, though many talent is still hosting programs from home.

Murdoch made the announcement to staffers in this memo, which also notes the two year anniversary of Fox Corp. as a corporate entity.

Dear Colleagues,

This week we mark the two-year anniversary of Fox Corporation. The company’s founding was rooted in our belief in the strength of our core brands, the power of leading news, sports and entertainment content, and our legacy of innovation. The businesses that underpin FOX are thriving, and we have grown and diversified with the acquisitions of Tubi and Credible as well as our joint venture FOX Bet. The financial and operational excellence that FOX has delivered over the past two years is a direct result of your commitment, ingenuity, and passion. What makes this company great is the great people who work here.

Beyond the accomplishments of our business, we have been enormously successful in cultivating a collaborative and caring culture. Your support for each other, particularly during the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, has exemplified the FOX family mentality. While we spent the last year working in new, and often remote, ways, you have continued to prioritize caring for each other. Similarly, the health and safety of our workforce has remained my priority. With that as the guiding principle, we are deferring our next possible phase one reopening date to no earlier than September 7, immediately after Labor Day.

While I wish we could celebrate this anniversary milestone together, I want to recognize and thank you for your contribution to the company. In the spirit of leaving a positive and lasting impact on the lives of our viewers and the communities we serve, FOX worked with our philanthropic partner U.S. VETS to modernize the career center in its South Los Angeles facility. Veterans at that U.S. VETS facility will now have access to new computers, printers, and furniture, creating the optimal space to assist them with resume writing, job applications, mock interviews and other professional needs. The revitalized career center, which was donated on behalf of the entire FOX organization, is a living tribute to you.

Thank you for an impressive and impactful first two years – and here is to many more.

Warmly,

Lachlan Murdoch