Brazilian companies forced to adapt to remote work with Covid-19 crisis

As Brazil recorded its first death from Covid-19 on Tuesday, the country is now beginning to see the effects of the pandemic on its everyday life. Streets are quieter, classes have been suspended, state governments have banned large gatherings, shopping malls are closing stores, food courts are reducing their opening hours, and many are now working from home.

This reporter is among those affected. Despite it being a sunny day in Brasília, I and many others are writing their stories from home, with work in Congress reduced and political discussions taking place online, over instant messaging apps. In São Paulo, the rest of The Brazilian Report team is also working remotely.

But, like everything in Brazil, legislation is so intricate that any remote working measures adopted by companies must be rigorously analyzed so as not to justify legal proceedings. While home office regimes have been a part of...