Employers order workers to stay at home after China trips

Major Australian businesses have ordered staff who have recently visited China to stay at home for 14 days to avoid any potential spread of the deadly coronavirus to colleagues.

Several large consulting firms with offices across the country have implemented tough new rules to reduce the chances of staff being exposed to the virus, which originated in Wuhan in the Hubei province. Companies are also limiting travel to China until the outbreak subsides.

Major consulting firm UBS has requested staff who have recently visited China not to return to their Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney workplaces for two weeks, and has temporarily shut the Hong Kong office.

"The Hong Kong office will open as normal on Wednesday," a spokeswoman said. All of UBS' offices in mainland China are shut until February 3 in line with the extended national holiday.

"We have asked staff to work from home for 14 days if they have recently returned from mainland China."

This decision has affected staff who recently attended the UBS annual Greater China Conference, which ran until January 17, and those on holiday in the country for Chinese New Year celebrations.

People wear face masks as they wait at Hankou Railway Station in Wuhan last week. Credit: Getty Image

EY area managing partner for Asia Pacific Pat Winter said staff who had travelled to the city of Wuhan in January were being asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days and monitor their health.

"Client-related travel into Greater China at this time is still permitted, however, we are encouraging staff to reduce non-essential travel and find alternative ways to connect," Mr Winter said.

Meanwhile, Deloitte chief transformation officer Clare Harding said the company was helping Australian employees working in China on a "case-by-case basis".

"At this stage, we have told our Australian teams to defer  business travel to all parts of China until further notice," she said.

PricewaterhouseCoopers had asked all staff to avoid travel to the Hubei province until February 3, managing partner of people and culture Helen Fazzino said.

"We are asking employees that have returned from the Hubei province or have come in contact with people from these areas, to work flexibly from home for 14 days after returning to their home town," Ms Fazzino said.

Banks are also closely monitoring staff in China. ANZ has ruled out any non-essential travel in affected areas.

"If any staff travelled to Hubei province for holidays and Lunar New Year, we are asking them to self-quarantine for two weeks before returning to the office," an ANZ spokesman said. "Staff are being advised to take precautionary hygiene measures and to seek medical advice if they experience any symptoms."

Commonwealth Bank told staff they would need a medical certificate if they had travelled in the Hubei province within the past fortnight and had symptoms or had been in contact with someone with coronavirus.

"All group employees are advised not to travel to Hubei province, and all non-essential travel to China should be avoided," a spokeswoman for the bank said.

AMP is reviewing non-essential travel in Asia and asking staff in Beijing and Hong Kong to work from home.

A spokeswoman for commercial property company Goodman said staff who had visited, passed through or stopped over in China had been told not to come to work until they had a medical clearance certificate or had been back for two weeks.