COVID-19 Return to Office: For Contract Worker Suppliers

Below are the Cisco sites that have not entered the return to office phase and continue in the work from home phase. Workers should continue to work from home until further notice.

Only workers on the critical worker list are approved to work onsite, following the critical worker onsite booking process (internal available link). If your worker is accessing a Cisco site, they will be required as a minimum to wear a face covering, use the Cisco self-screening app to self-check for symptoms daily, review the training and take the test, and follow any local regulatory training requirements. The regulatory COVID-19 control plans and training by your location can be found on this internal only link.

More information on our return to office strategy can be found at this internal only link. For a list of sites that have entered a phase return, refer to the tab on this site.

The following Cisco facilities are open on a restricted basis to mission-critical workers only as part of a planned phased return to office strategy. Workers not identified as mission-critical should continue to work from home until notified otherwise. Workers who return to the office will be required to wear a face covering, use the Cisco self-screening app to self-check for symptoms daily, review onsite worker training, and follow local regulatory training requirements.

This site will be updated as each country/site receives approval to move into the return to office process. Workers in each country will be kept informed of changes.

**During Phase 1, the Cisco facilities named above are open on a restricted basis to mission-critical personnel as part of the planned, phased Return to Office Strategy. Cisco workers (and contingent workers) who are returning to the office will receive specific guidance on the measures in place at each location, and will be required to take mandatory training before returning. All other staff will continue to work from home until further notice.

If your worker needs access to a Cisco office and are not on the list of mission critical staff approved to come onsite during the current phase, then please discuss with your Cisco lead. Requests will be assessed by the team responsible for managing site occupancy rates, and if approved, guidelines for accessing the worksite will be provided in advance.​​​​​​​

What criteria will Cisco use to determine when workers will begin returning to the office?

All decisions regarding extending access to our offices and resuming travel, meetings, and events will be informed by the health and safety of our workers and based on scientific and medical data, official guidance, and business needs.

Which teams are likely the first to return to the office?

Return to office decisions will be made on a phased basis with workers who are performing duties that are deemed critical infrastructure or mission critical prioritized according to business need. As part of a return to office plan for a specific location, workers who are part of the return will be identified by Cisco’s leadership team and a site communication will be sent with guidelines about workplace measures at their location.

Why are some sites returning in phase one while others are not within the same country?

Only sites where Cisco leaders have identified mission critical workers will be included in phase one for each country/state. We anticipate gradually increasing the sites and number of people that return over the coming weeks and months and appreciate your patience as we continue to work towards this. Check this site regularly for updates on future openings.

If you have a worker returning to the office in phase one, how will that worker be informed about the new working arrangements and measures in place at their worksite?

All workers identified as returning to a worksite in phase one will receive an email detailing the actions they need to take before they return as well as specific information relating to their worksite. Actions to take before returning include the completion of mandatory training and details on how to self-check daily for common symptoms of COVID-19 using either the Cisco Office Pass app or another specified process. Information relating to your worker’s worksite will include opening hours, service availability, physical distancing and hygiene guidelines, and local contacts. It is very important that the worker read this information carefully.

Please note that if the worker has not been identified as needing to return in phase one, they should not come onsite. If worker is not included in this phase and needs to come onsite, please discuss your request with your Cisco leader. If your worker is added to the list of mission critical workers for their site, you will receive an email detailing the actions and information outlined above. No worker should go to a worksite without completing mandatory training, having in place the app or other processes to conduct a daily self-check, and reading and understanding the information relating to their worksite.

What if you have a worker that has concerns about going back into the office?

As more and more locations open, it will be important for more contract workers to return to the office to support the business. At the same time, we know that some workers may be concerned about returning. We ask that all supplier employers and associated contract workers stay informed by closely reading site-specific communications and that the contract worker stay informed through the internal pandemic planning site. If the contract worker has been identified as needing to return, it’s important to understand the many health and safety protocols Cisco is putting in place. Concern should be directed to our C-Worker support mailer at: c-worker_program_team@cisco.com.

You have a worker not on the list to return to the office during phase one, but that worker needs access to that site -- what do you do?

If you need to access a Cisco office and do not have mission critical approval to come onsite during the current phase, please reach out to the C-Worker support mailer at: c-worker_program_team@cisco.com. Your request will be assessed by the team responsible for managing site occupancy rates and if approved, guidelines for accessing the worksite will be provided in advance. Depending on location and local regulations, you may be asked to use a different app, this will be communicated to you before your return.

How long will Cisco be operating at a reduced capacity in our offices and with additional measures in place?

Cisco has a planned, phased approach to extending access to sites, however, the timeline involved will vary country by country and, in some cases, site by site. We will only move forward to the next phase after considering all of the criteria (legal, medical, individual concerns, and government regulations), and we may need to revert to a previous phase if the situation locally deteriorates, i.e. there is a second wave of the pandemic. The measures in place will evolve as the situation continues to develop and in line with all applicable regulations and medical advice.

Does entering Phase 2 mean that my location is back to normal? 

No. We are using a planned, phased approach to return to the office. However, the timescale involved will vary country to country and, in some cases, site to site. We will only move forward to the next phase after considering all of the criteria (legal, medical, employee concerns, and government regulations), and we may need to revert to a previous phase if the local situation deteriorates; if for example, there is a second wave of the pandemic. The measures in place will evolve in line with all applicable regulations and medical advice as the situation continues to develop.

What measures are in place at the office that I must comply with?

Before visiting a Cisco office for the first time, your worker will need to review provided materials and any additional regulatory training required by their jobsite location. Your worker will also need to download the Cisco office pass app and review the instructions for use. Review the content specific for this app on this site if you have any questions.

Each day before entering the office, your worker will need to use the app to self-check for symptoms of COVID-19 and follow the on screen instructions. If the workers answers result in a red screen, it’s very important that the worker do not enter the office. The worker will also need to wear a face covering and follow all signage regarding physical distancing and hygiene carefully.

Why does the worker need a face covering in the office? 

Having consulted with our medical team, we believe wearing a face covering protects others from the risk of transmission of COVID-19. Although the use of face coverings is not a government requirement in every locale, we are asking everyone to wear one every time they come onsite; this is in line with our global policy. Please contact Cisco People and Communities if your worker has a personal situation that may require an accommodation.

How does the worker ensure there is space for them to meet with others at a Cisco office?

Please ensure that your worker has a space (for example a meeting room or lab space booked for the correct number of people) for the duration needed, and check with Cisco's Workplace Resources Planning site lead for your function if you need further guidance. During Phase 2, we will maintain capacity of our offices at around 50 percent and may need to ask workers to leave if daily capacity exceeds this.

What if my worker has concerns about going back into the office?

As more and more locations open, it will be important for more workers to return to the office to support the business. At the same time, we know that some of your workers may be concerned about returning to the office. Your worker should be communicating with their employer (you) first to share any concerns they may have. As their employer, you can then contact your Cisco contact for further discussions.

Are visitors to Cisco offices allowed in Phase 2?

At most locations, visitors are permitted in Phase 2 in groups limited to no more than 10. Visitors must be pre-registered by their Cisco host in the visitor management system (VMS). Visitors must always bring their own face covering and wear it all times while on site. Hosts are responsible for the pre-registration of visitors, for ensuring they have received and understood Cisco visitor requirements, and for their compliance while on site.

What measures are in place to protect workers returning to the office?

All contractors will need to complete mandatory online training that outlines the workplace measures in effect before returning to the office. Workers must self-screen to check for potential virus symptoms before going to the office daily via a self-service app. Signage throughout each site will communicate how to navigate the new workplace.

Must face coverings be worn on site?

At least for phase one and where permitted by local law, face coverings are a minimum Cisco standard for occupants of Cisco properties while in areas where social distancing is not possible or is difficult. More specific measures or personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements will be compliant with local requirements. Cisco will make required materials available to workers returning to the worksite at Cisco locations.

What cleaning protocols will be in place?

Enhanced cleaning protocols will be in place, including surface cleaning, floor cleaning, localized aerosol misting, and other techniques as required. The frequency of these protocols will vary based on local requirements, occupancy, and by situation.

What happens if a case of COVID-19 is confirmed in my building?

If a building occupant has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, appropriate response teams will be engaged to investigate and deem necessary cleaning, building closure decisions, and communications needs.

If my worker has a suspected case of diagnosed with COVID-19, who do I reach out to?

Please email cce-casemgrs@cisco.com as soon as this is known.

If my worker has been in close contact (6 feet for more than 10 minutes) with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and has been in contact with other Cisco-related personnel (employees, other contract workers, partners or customers), who do I reach out to?

Please email cce-casemgrs@cisco.com as soon as this is known.

If I want to inform Cisco of a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 related to a Cisco staff member, customer or at a partner site, who do I reach out to?

Please email cce-casemgrs@cisco.com as soon as this is known.

What does the split-team working arrangement mean?

Where a split-team working arrangement is in place, everyone identified to return to the office in the current phase will be placed into a team, and each team has allocated days when team members will need to work in the specified office. Members of different teams must not be in the office at the same time and meetings with members of other teams will need to be conducted through virtual platforms. Visiting other Cisco sites is not permitted--if your worker needs to visit another site, please discuss this with a Cisco leader who will explore options with the Cisco Business Resiliency team. Please note that split team working arrangements will not apply to every site. If they are in place at your worksite, you will receive detailed instructions before your return.

Is Cisco considering offering contractors the opportunity to work from home on a permanent basis?

Currently, we are thoughtfully and strategically planning for return to office. We will continue to evaluate how we work and connect as teams going forward. No long-term decisions have been made.

I am returning to the office in phase one, can I bring my dog?

No. The Pets in the Workplace/Bring Your Dog to Work program is on hold until further notice.

Can your worker use the printer in the office? 

Yes, contractors can use the printer at the work site, but please have them follow appropriate hygiene steps before and after touching the touchpad and buttons on the machine.

How should your worker connect to the network once in the office? 

Prior to people returning to the office, our IT team has remotely checked the network, and they are monitoring the access points within the office to enable wireless access, so workers do not need to physically connect to a network port.

What happens if something doesn’t work? 

Please open a case as normal if you find an issue with the network, IP Phones, collaboration equipment, or other IT services in the office. The lead time to get issues fixed may be longer than normal and will depend on available staff and equipment.

Please see the Pandemic Planning site for more details on the testing protocol.