As more financial firms grapple with the latest surge in Covid-19 infections, JPMorgan Chase & Co jobs., one of Wall Street's staunchest supporters of returning to Manhattan skyscrapers, is offering employees the option of working from home in the first weeks of 2022, and Citigroup Inc. is encouraging staff to log on remotely.
“We are not changing our long-term plans of working in the office," JPMorgan told staff in a memo on Thursday. “However, with the increase in holiday travel and gatherings, we are allowing for more flexibility during the first two weeks of January to work from home (if your role allows) at your manager’s discretion." Employees are expected to resume their in-office schedules by Feb. 1, JPMorgan said.
Citigroup was already among the major U.S. banks jobs that had relaxed workplace policies in recent weeks, inviting employees throughout the New York metropolitan area to work remotely over the holidays. "We are now asking that you work from home for the first few weeks of the New Year if you are able to do so," says the company "According to a memo issued by the bank on Thursday. "We will continue to monitor the data and provide an update on when we expect to be back in the office in January."
The New York region has been hard hit by this winter's spike in infections, raising concerns about what will happen at office buildings and schools when families return from gatherings or vacations in the coming days. This has compelled a number of banks to revise their staffing strategies in recent weeks, with some relaxing mandates to commute to buildings.
