Firms, states push remote work as U.S.-Israel–Iran war hits oil

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Global corporations and governments are implementing widespread work-from-home policies and safety protocols as the escalating conflict between the United States-Israeli forces and Iran disrupts operations across the Middle East. 

The retaliatory strikes, which began on February 28 following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, have forced technology giants, financial institutions, and other nations to prioritize employee safety while mitigating economic fallout from supply chain disruptions and surging fuel costs.

U.S. tech, finance firms activate remote work protocols

BBC reports that, in response to retaliatory attacks, some of the largest U.S. corporations have immediately activated emergency procedures to protect workers. Amazon, Google, Snap, and Nvidia are among the companies that support the use of safety measures. 

Amazon Web Services (AWS) reported that it was the target of drone attacks on three of its plants in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. A specific AWS data center in the UAE was particularly affected by objects that sparked and caused fires. 

The company also examined power and connectivity issues at a Bahrain facility. Amazon is embarking on a significant review of its regional resources, such as corporate offices, fulfillment facilities, and data centers, and has permanently halted operations in certain areas, as well as requiring its corporate staff to work remotely.

“We are adjusting operations in response to the evolving situation, including temporary pauses where necessary,” an Amazon spokesperson told Business Insider.

JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup have also encouraged employees in their offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and other parts of the region to work from home and follow the directives of local governments.

Goldman Sachs also stated that it had implemented measures to ensure business continuity and that safety was its top priority. On the other hand, Citigroup announced that its employees would work from home until further notice. At the same time, JPMorgan regularly assesses the situation to help guide its employees.

A company spokesperson said, “The safety of our employees is our number one priority, and we are continuing to take measures to help keep our employees and their families safe.”

FedEx, which has its central hub at Dubai World Central Airport in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Africa, has also had contingency plans in place to ensure business continuity. Although there are very few employees in the area, Airbnb also has a global corporate security team that assesses its needs and safety. 

Middle East, Asia mandate remote work for business continuity

Middle Eastern and Asian countries are taking advantage of remote work orders to secure operational viability amid the ongoing crisis. 

According to Qatar Tribune, the remote work system has been expanded to all Qatar employees of ministries, government agencies, and government institutions by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, as of March 3, until further notice. 

This measure excludes jobs in the military, security, and health sectors, as well as jobs that require physical presence, to ensure the essential provision is not compromised.

At the same time, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Qatar have suggested extending remote working in private-sector establishments, while exempting retail outlets and services that depend on direct interaction with people to ensure the flow of necessary goods.

In another TechJuice report, Pakistan is also considering a mandatory work-from-home policy as one of its strict measures to conserve fuel. 

A cabinet committee, chaired by the Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, is deliberating on a national action plan to address disruptions caused by the blockage of regional trade flows. 

The government has instructed the provincial chief secretaries to attend all future deliberations to ensure nationwide coordination. This is a larger emergency intervention program aimed at ensuring that domestic markets remain liquid and that unwarranted consumption is avoided. 

The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has now permitted oil marketing companies to manage retail supplies under historical selling trends to avoid hoarding during periods of price volatility.

Rising fuel costs drive four-day workweek policies

The blowback of the oil conflict on global oil prices has led governments in the Asian world to adopt aggressive fuel-conservation policies, based on compressed work schedules. 

Inquirer reports that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines proclaimed the introduction of a four-day workweek in the executive branch’s offices beginning March 9. 

“This does not include those providing emergency or essential services, such as police, firefighters, and offices delivering frontline services to the public,” President Marcos said.

This was institutionalized by Memorandum Circular No. 114, which seeks to conserve energy and reduce fuel use worldwide amid skyrocketing oil prices driven by the intensification of war in oil-rich states. 

Marcos ordered a 10% to 20% reduction in electricity and petroleum costs for all government agencies, as well as a temporary ban on unnecessary government travel. 

According to Manila Bulletin, Senator Joel Villanueva, the principal drafter of the Telecommuting Act (Republic Act No. 11165), reminded that the 2018 legislation provides an existing policy framework to reduce commuting demand. 

“The effect of the Work-from-Home law is not only a benefit to employees. It is also a practical step to reduce the consumption of gasoline and diesel, especially since we expect prices to rise due to unrest in the Middle East,” Villanueva said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has also strongly advocated for the four-day work week, saying, “If we can implement a 4-day work week instead of five days on the road or work from home so that we don’t have to go out on the road because once you go out, it costs petrol.”

These were reinforced by Parañaque 2 nd District Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan, who asked the government and the business sector to consider temporarily switching to work-from-home and online class arrangements to alleviate the workload on the workers and the students who depend on transport, should the oil prices continue to soar as a result of the ongoing strikes.

Villanueva notes, “If work can be done from home or through a hybrid setup, we should study it and use it, especially if it helps reduce workers’ expenses.”

As governments and corporations push remote work, compressed schedules, and telecommuting during geopolitical disruptions, the conflict is accelerating a long-term shift toward more flexible, crisis-resilient work systems that may permanently redefine how and where global labor operates.