For those who came in late, Italy, the original epicentre of a coronavirus outbreak in Europe, will start easing a nationwide lockdown next week. But it seems that TIM is being a little cautious.

Two-thirds of TIM’s 45,000-strong staff have been working remotely during the lockdown. Under the company’s re-opening plans, agreed with national unions, around 23,200 employees, including customer care personnel, will continue to work from home, the internal documents showed.

A further 8,000, including executives and managers, will start returning to their offices from May 4 but will be working in shifts, alternating work from home and from their offices, in order to avoid overcrowding.

Desks in open spaces will be reorganised in a chessboard-like arrangement, allowing social distancing, and staff will need to wear protective masks while in the office, the documents showed.