Lachlan Murdoch Tells Fox Staffers: No Return to Office Before September

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Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch told staffers in a company-wide email Tuesday that they won’t be returning to the offices before the end of the summer.

In an email obtained by Mediaite, Murdoch told staffers, including those at Fox News and Fox Business, that the first phase of re-opening won’t happen before Labor Day.

“[T]he health and safety of our workforce has remained my priority,” Murdoch said in the email. “With that as the guiding principle, we are deferring our next possible phase one reopening date to no earlier than September 7, immediately after Labor Day.”

Read the full letter, below.

Dear Colleagues,

This week we mark the two-year anniversary of Fox Corporation. The company’s founding was rooted in our belief in the strength of our core brands, the power of leading news, sports and entertainment content, and our legacy of innovation. The businesses that underpin FOX are thriving, and we have grown and diversified with the acquisitions of Tubi and Credible as well as our joint venture FOX Bet. The financial and operational excellence that FOX has delivered over the past two years is a direct result of your commitment, ingenuity, and passion. What makes this company great is the great people who work here.

Beyond the accomplishments of our business, we have been enormously successful in cultivating a collaborative and caring culture. Your support for each other, particularly during the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, has exemplified the FOX family mentality. While we spent the last year working in new, and often remote, ways, you have continued to prioritize caring for each other. Similarly, the health and safety of our workforce has remained my priority. With that as the guiding principle, we are deferring out next possible phase one reopening date to no earlier than September 7, immediately after Labor Day.

While I wish we could celebrate this anniversary milestone together, I want to recognize and thank you for your contribution to the company. In the spirit of leaving a positive and lasting impact on the lives of our viewers and the communities we serve, FOX worked with our philanthropic partner U.S. VETS to modernize the career center in its South Los Angeles facility. Veterans at that U.S. VETS facility will now have access to computers, printers, and furniture, creating the optimal space to assist them with resume writing, job applications, mock interviews and other professional needs. The revitalized career center, which was donated on behalf of the entire FOX organization, is a living tribute to you.

Thank you for an impressive and impactful first two years – and here is to many more.

Warmly,
Lachlan Murdoch

A Fox Corporation spokesperson confirmed the email to Mediaite.

Last week, CNN announced that its Atlanta-based staffers will likely return to the office on August 1, and New York staffers will likely go back to the office on September 1. The Washington Post has told staffers that around 10% of them could expect to start returning to the office by July 6. The New York Times told staffers Tuesday to plan for a Sept. 7 return to the office, although some may return on a voluntary basis starting in July, according to Times media reporter Katie Robertson.

Note: This piece has been updated with information on news organizations’ return-to-office plans.