Delta Variant Thwarts Hachette Office Return

The rise of the Delta variant of SARS-COV-2 has moved one major publisher to reverse plans to return to the office.

Any hope the summer of 2021 would see freedom from Covid-19 cases has long faded.

Citing the spread of the Delta variant, Hachette has reversed a decision announced in July to reopen for in-person work in September, reports Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.

Hachette’s return-to-the-office plan had earlier called for a hybrid working model, requiring employees to work in-person at least two days a week.

CEO Michael Pietsch, however, said the publisher will now not reopen until it is safe to proceed, and with a minimum of four weeks’ notice to staff.

“Hachette is reversing course on another key point,” Albanese adds. “HBG will require any employee who wishes to visit an HBG office to be vaccinated. Masks will have to be worn too.

“I think we can all applaud and appreciate Hachette’s decision to put safety first, and to do so quickly, in the face of an outbreak that itself is moving remarkably quickly,” Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally.

Every Friday, CCC’s “Velocity of Content” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.