Latest projections show that Omicron could outpace Delta if it continues to spread
Three major Canadian banks have announced that they will be holding off plans to bring back workers to the office amid the threat of the Omicron variant. The Bank of Nova Scotia announced this week that its supposed return-to-office scheme starting January 17 is now suspended. It was supposed to cover head office employees that are still working remotely, Bloomberg reported.
The announcement came after the growing number of COVID-19 cases in Ontario, which currently has 12,666 active cases as of December 15.
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), in an internal memo to employees, also decided to "pause" current plans to bring back workers to office in January. Staff who are already working back at the offices have also been asked to work remotely again, with the bank citing uncertainty due to the new COVID-19 variant and increasing cases.
National Bank, however, told Reuters in a statement that its long-term plans of reopening gradually are still on track. However, a recent message to employees encouraged them to "work remotely if they can," a bank spokesperson told Reuters.
