In an internal email, Microsoft says it's tracking employee office visits and seeing 'people in non-essential roles badge-in onsite' against company orders

• Microsoft has asked all of its U.S. employees to work from home "until further notice," but some employees appear to be breaking the rules.
• The company has been tracking when workers use employee badges to enter offices, according to an internal email reviewed by Business Insider.
• Many people are complying with Microsoft's rules, the email said, but some employees whose work does not require them to be in the office are going there anyway "for reasons other than picking up items from [their] desk."
• Microsoft reminded employees to keep working from home if their job allows it and detailed how it's supporting those who have to work on-site such as data center workers.
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Microsoft employees in 'non-essential roles' continue to badge into company offices despite orders not to, according to an internal email reviewed by Business Insider.

To help workers stay safe and avoid spreading the coronavirus, Microsoft has asked all of its US employees to work from home "until further notice," unless they are in a job that requires them to be onsite. In an email on April 6, Microsoft executive Kurt DelBene reminded staffers to follow the rules.

The company has been able to analyze whether full-time employees and vendors are respecting its remote work policy by tracking who scans into buildings with their employee badges.

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"While it's terrific to see how many people are complying, we continue to see people in non-essentials roles badge-in onsite for reasons other than picking up items from your desk," DelBene wrote. "Please continue to respect the work from home guidance to safeguard your health as well as the health of employees in essential roles that must enter the workplace."

Microsoft didn't respond to Business Insider's request for more information.

In his email, DelBene also shared some of the ways the company is supporting data center workers and others employees who have to work onsite. Microsoft is supplying protective equipment like masks and enacting measures such as "shift modifications, social distancing protocols, personal and site sanitation procedures," the email said.

Since the coronavirus crisis began, Microsoft has also offered 12 weeks of paid leave for parents as school remain closed, streamed company-wide town halls from executives' homes, and even delivered food and medications to employee's homes.

The company also confirmed to Business Insider earlier this week that it is freezing hiring for some roles, citing uncertainty related to the coronavirus crisis. It declined to specify which roles are affected.

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