Following the global outbreak of coronavirus across the globe, there have been calls for isolation and social distancing among people to help check the overall community spread. This has seen big tech companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter and Amazon implementing remote working policies for their employees around the globe.
Also, there is a growing list of major events being cancelled or postponed worldwide. The moves comes as tech companies hope to curb the spread of the COVID-19 both among their employees and the community at large.
With 8 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nigeria, Nigerian companies are beginning to respond to the developments. Companies and startups in the tech space are recommending their employees to work from home as the novel coronavirus continues to spread in the country.
Andela, Carbon, Buycoins and Fint are some of the tech companies in Nigeria which have implemented remote working policies for their employees in all their locations.
Carbon
Fintech platform, Carbon has announced that all its employees will be working from home to minimise the likelihood of infection.
“According to experts, the best way to slow the spread of the virus is to increase basic personal hygiene, such as washing hands and practising social distancing,” Carbon said in a statement. “As a careful measure to safeguard and support the Carbon team, we’re working towards ensuring that we can work from our homes if need be.”
While it has ruled out actual phone customer care support, the startup will however still be providing support for users throughout the day via emails and social media only.
This remote work is expected to affect its services as it says loan applications may take longer to process. It has also reduced the maximum loan to be given out (from N1 million to N500,000) as well as reduced loan increases for repeat borrowers.
Andela
Although Andela Nigeria has not effected a 100% remote policy for all its employees yet, the talent outsourcing company has begun testing for the worst-case scenario.
The company yesterday asked all its employees to work from home as a drill should incase they need to effect a fully remote system due to the COVID-19.
In other news, the Kenyan branch of the company, Andela Kenya, is going fully remote for some time following COVID-19 scares.
Fint
Fintech startup, Fint earlier today announced its plans to continue with the full remote policy it began in February. Making the announcement on Twitter, the startup says it is optimistic the whole situation will be better, however it is playing its part for the welfare of its team and partners.
“We believe that the situation will get better soon but we all have our parts to play. We are glad that our team has remained productive in the weeks of this new policy and we guarantee continued excellent service delivery to all our customers and partners,” it says.
Buycoins Africa
On Tuesday, cryptocurrency exchange platform, Buycoins Africa also announced that it is mandating remote work for all its employees for the next few weeks.
The startup’s CEO, Timi Ajiboye noted that the action is taken out of caution despite the small number of confirmed cases so far.
The company will also be giving allowances to its employees to help them cope with their remote duties.
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