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Hong Kong agency bosses give staff option to skip work to join Occupy Central protests

Spencer Wong SMS on Twitter

Spencer Wong SMS on Twitter today

A number of media and advertising companies in Hong Kong have given their staff the option to not come into work today as the city wakes up to the working week after the Occupy Central pro-democracy protests gridlocked the city last night and continue this morning.

The CEO and chief creative officer of McCann’s Hong Kong office, Spencer Wong, texted staff at 12.44am to inform them that they could skip the office to “support something more important than work.”

In his text, Wong wrote: “I decide for tomorrow it’s all up to your own will going to work or not. The company will not blame or punish anyone who support something more important for work. I bear full responsibility for you all. No worry. You have my word.”

Ogilvy has implemented a similar policy. Staff facing difficulty getting to the office – which is located in the heart of Central – or wanting to join the protest can miss work or work from home.

Other agencies, such as McCann’s sister PR agency Weber Shandwick, are treating the situation on a case by case basis for their employees.

Thousands of protesters remain in the central areas of Hong Kong island this morning to oppose how the government chooses its leader.

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