Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., one of the largest employers in Massachusetts, will remain closed through the summer.
CEO Roger Crandall announced the decision during an all-staff meeting. Employees will return to their offices no earlier than the beginning of September.
Approximately 96% of MassMutual employees have worked from home since mid-March, with a limited number of essential staff still working on-site.
Timing for reopening will be based on guidance from federal, state and local government as well as a reduction in the number of new cases in states where offices are based.
MassMutual has about 3,500 employees based in their Springfield office, 1,500 in Enfield and about 500 in Boston. The company also has offices in Arizona and New York.
The company announced in mid-March that it would close its offices as the number of coronavirus cases in the United States continued to grow.
At the time, Massachusetts had 95 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Two months later, the number of confirmed cases in the commonwealth has reached 79,332 as of Tuesday.
Prior to the office closure, thousands of employees were already working from home due to school closures.
Massachusetts schools will remain closed through the end of the year and daycare facilities will remain closed until June 29.
In light of the impact to employees’ day-to-day lives, MassMutual has expanded its benefits program.
Employees are being provided up to 80 hours of additional paid time off for needs related to COVID-19, including if they or a loved one becomes sick from the virus.
Employees can participate in online yoga classes, meditation programs and take stretch breaks during the day. To support employees feeling increased anxiety or stress, the company has offered free counseling sessions since the start of the public health crisis.
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