City of London firms begin summoning workers back to the office

Financial firms across the City of London have started summoning staff back to the office a day after the UK government rescinded guidance that employees should work from home.

Official guidance in the Republic and the North remains to work from home where possible, but this is likely to change as overall restrictions ease.

In London banks such as Goldman Sachs and HSBC, alongside law firms, consultants and insurers, have dusted off plans put in place before the UK government unveiled Plan B restrictions in December to slow the spread of Omicron. This spread rapidly through the country, but now the peak of infections and hospital admissions appears to have passed in the UK capital.

Goldman Sachs has asked its 6,500 London staff to return to the office with immediate effect, but will still require them to wear masks when moving around the building as well as undergoing mandatory testing each week, a spokesman said.

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Wall Street peer Citigroup informed staff that they need to come in for "at least three days a week" – the same policy as it had before Plan B measures – from now on. They will continue to take antigen tests on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and must wear masks in lifts.

"We are now free to gather in our offices, without restriction, where we are better able to generate the energy and collaborative spirit on which Citi thrives ... We look forward to seeing you!" David Livingstone, its top executive in Europe, said in a memo to all UK staff.

The return of hundreds of thousands of workers to London and other city centres will provide a much-needed boost to businesses that have been hit hard by lack of footfall over the past two years.

Face masks

HSBC said that staff started returning to its offices around the country on Thursday. From January 27th they will no longer be required to wear face masks in offices or branches, and its in-house company gyms have reopened. The bank has restarted business travel in line with international requirements on isolating and testing, it added in a memo.

Similarly, Standard Chartered has asked staff to come in next week, but added that flexible arrangements unveiled last year remain in place for the majority of employees.

Accounting and consulting firm EY, which employs about 17,000 people in the UK, said that from Thursday “all desks will be available to use, the use of face coverings will be optional, and meeting rooms will be able to operate at full capacity” at its offices in England.

Kevin Ellis, UK chair and senior partner of Big Four accountant PwC, welcomed the easing of restrictions, and said staff "value time with colleagues, alongside the flexibility to work from home when helpful".

Linklaters, a magic circle law firm, will fully reopen its offices from Monday, although staff will be asked to wear masks when moving around the building, said a person briefed on its new policy.

– Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2022