City bankers to work from home for rest of year?

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City bankers may be asked to work from home for rest of year

By Ben Harrington, Financial Mail on Sunday

Published: | Updated:

Some City bankers may be asked to work from home for the rest of the year, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. 

Sources said a host of City institutions were planning a ‘phased’ return to the office as the coronavirus lockdown eases. 

While some staff would be asked to begin commuting into the City in the coming weeks, others may be asked to keep working at home. 

Small steps: Sources said a host of City institutions were planning a ‘phased’ return to the office as the coronavirus lockdown eases

Asking staff to return in phases would help ease congestion on public transport and social distancing in the workplace. 

Senior City sources said it is likely that share traders will be asked to return while administration, operations and ‘middle office’ staff could be held back for many months. 

One source said JP Morgan was among the banks preparing a plan that involved some staff working remotely for the rest of 2020. 

A company spokesman declined to comment. Last week, it emerged that Canary Wharf – home to the European headquarters of Barclays, Citigroup and HSBC – had drawn up detailed plans to allow bankers, accountants and lawyers to return to work. 

These include limiting lift capacity, daily deep cleaning and one-way footfall flows. Some key executives, such as senior traders, have been working part time from their offices. 

But most City workers have been asked to work at home since the crisis began. 

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