Panel SA: Americanas employees expect change in home office guideline

The home office regime has become yet another point of tension for Americanas employees amid the crisis caused by the company’s BRL 20 billion accounting scandal.

Last week, the company sent a statement with questions and answers identified as some of the workers’ greatest concerns. In the document, Americanas spoke of topics such as payment of wages and dismissals: it did not rule out cuts and said that the law provides for normal remuneration during the judicial recovery. But professionals are still waiting on how face-to-face work will look to organize their routines.

Before the revelation of the accounting scandal, which was announced together with the resignation of Sergio Rial from the presidency of Americanas, the most expected guideline was the expansion of the face-to-face return. Since the beginning of the pandemic, when he was still in charge of Santander, in 2020, Rial has been one of the biggest critics of remote work. He even suggested a voluntary waiver of benefits or part of the salary for employees who opted for the home office, since they would spend less time and money to go to the company.

With the departure of the executive, employees expect a change in the direction of the model. Some suggest the company could lease office floors to raise funds. Americanas does not comment on the matter.

Joana Cunha with Paulo Ricardo Martins and Diego Felix