JPMorgan Plans to Bring U.K. Staff Back to Office Next Month

(Bloomberg) -- JPMorgan Chase & Co. has told U.K.-based staff that more of them will return to office working starting next month as the country begins to wind down Covid-related restrictions.

The American bank said in a memo that more workers would come to its London and Bournemouth sites from June 21. The offices will operate at a maximum of 50% of their capacity, with all workers gradually moving to a “consistent schedule” of home- and office-working, according to a memo, which was first reported by Financial News.

A vaccination is not required in order to return to the office at this time, the bank said in the memo. More than two thirds of all adults in the U.K. have received at least one dose of a vaccine.

Last month, JPMorgan said all employees in the U.S. would be in the office on rotation by early July. It follows Wall Street rival Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which has said U.S. staff should be prepared by June 14 to work from offices again, while those in the U.K. should be ready June 21, according to an internal memo reported by Bloomberg earlier this month.

Flexible Approach

European banks are taking a more flexible approach to working patterns. Societe Generale SA plans to allow its French staff to work from home for up to three days a week, while Barclays Plc Chief Executive Officer Jes Staley said last month his firm will likely avoid a strict mandate on time in the office.

Standard Chartered Plc has abolished individual offices to cultivate hybrid working, and HSBC Holdings Plc has made several big changes such as declaring U.K. call-center workers can stay home permanently.

A U.K. government roadmap plans to end all legal limits on social contact on June 21 so long as Covid cases remain in check. In Scotland, where JPMorgan has offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, the timetable may vary.

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