COVID-19 update: supporting our employees and community

How GitHub is responding to the COVID-19 outbreak

With the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak evolving, GitHub is making operational changes aimed at protecting employees and the broader developer community. The company is prioritizing continuity for the millions of developers and customers who rely on its platform, and it is taking steps to limit the spread of the virus.

Employee policies: travel halted, remote work encouraged

All non-essential domestic and international business travel has been paused for team members worldwide. GitHub says it will revisit the policy "in the coming weeks" based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.

Offices remain open, but employees who work in GitHub offices or coworking spaces are supported if they choose to work from home. Because GitHub has operated as a distributed company since its founding, the infrastructure for fully remote collaboration and asynchronous communication is already in place. Sick employees are asked to stay home to rest, and all staff are encouraged to follow standard preventative measures such as frequent hand washing, avoiding touching the face, and practicing social distancing.

Preventative cleaning and sanitization are underway in the San Francisco and European offices. GitHub is also assessing all of its offices—including coworking spaces—to "minimize the risk and respond quickly" if the virus is detected.

GitHub Satellite goes virtual

GitHub Satellite, previously scheduled as an in-person conference, will now be hosted as a virtual event on May 6, 2020. The decision reflects the uncertainty around virus spread over the coming months. The company plans to deliver a virtual experience that provides learning and inspiration for developers, maintainers, customers, partners, and employees without requiring them to share physical space. Additional details on the event format will be announced later.

GitHub says it will monitor the global situation and the recommendations of health organizations as it continues to assess steps for keeping employees and the community safe.