Oracle CEO Safra Catz tells all of its workers, except for 'critical employees,' to work from home because of the coronavirus crisis (ORCL)

Larry Ellison and Safra Catz

Oracle CEO Safra Catz said the tech giant's workers must work from home starting this week, except for "critical employees" who must maintain Oracle and customer "essential services."
As for employees who aren't considered critical, but can't do their jobs remotely, she said that Oracle "will continue to pay you until further notice."
"We need each of you to focus on your health and helping to contain the spread of the virus," Catz said in a memo.
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Oracle has joined other tech giants in requiring their employees to work remotely due to the coronavirus crisis.

CEO Safra Catz has sent a memo to Oracle's workforce that they must work from home, saying the company's offices will be open "only to critical employees."

"I know this has been a confusing and difficult time for you and your families," Catz said in the memo, a copy of which was obtained by Business Insider. "We need each of you to focus on your health and helping to contain the spread of the virus."

The "critical employees" are those who are needed "to maintain Oracle and customer essential services," Catz said. All other regular employees and contractors must work from home, she said. For those employees who are considered non-critical, but who can't do their jobs remotely, she said that "Oracle will continue to pay you until further notice."

Other major tech companies have already asked their workers to work remotely, including Google, Facebook and Amazon.

The coronavirus crisis has sent technology stocks plunging and caused serious disruptions in productions and tech events. Last week, Catz said Oracle has been "conducting business as usual," adding that it's unclear if the crisis will have an impact on the company's business.

Oracle was also recently in the news when some employees protested founder Larry Ellison's decision to hold a fundraising dinner for President Donald Trump — who has enlisted Silicon Valley tech firms, including Google, to help respond to the coronavirus outbreak.

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