Big banks, advertising firms and insurers have announced plans to return to the office after the government scrapped its work-from-home guidance for England with immediate effect. However, most said flexible working arrangements would remain in place.
Banking group HSBC said its staff started returning to the office on Thursday, while Standard Chartered has asked employees to come in from Monday - although both lenders have flexible working arrangements in place. Citigroup and Goldman Sachs also plan to resume office working. Meanwhile Havas, a French advertising agency with 11,500 staff worldwide, told the BBC it would "fully reopen" its London office from Monday.
The government introduced its Plan B restrictions in December to battle the Omicron variant, but on Wednesday eased them saying infections had peaked nationally. Along with the end of working-from guidance, the requirement in England for mandatory face coverings in public places and Covid passports will both be ditched from next Thursday.
Some have questioned whether the move is premature and could worsen already-high staff absences. The British Chambers of Commerce urged the government to improve access to rapid testing so firms could bring staff back to workplaces with confidence. "With infection rates still high, many firms are experiencing significant staff absences and will be cautious about teams rushing back to the office," BCC director general Shevauna Haviland said.
But others said city centres hit hard by Omicron would get a much needed boost as commuters returned. Network Rail said the number of people using its stations between 6:00 and 10.30 GMT on Thursday was up 10% compared with the same period last week.
