Citigroup, a global investment bank, has banned working video calls on Friday in a bid to help workers be free from “scattered workday instability”.
Jane Fraser, Citi’s new chief executive, told staff that the last day of the working week would be “Friday without Zoom”.
She also designated May 28 as a company-wide holiday known as “Citi resettlement day” and encouraged staff to book more vacations.
“I know from your feedback and my own experience that the lines between home and work and the difficulty of the extended working day have affected our wellbeing,” Fraser wrote in the memo, which was first reported by Financial News. “It’s simply not sustainable.”
“After listening to colleagues around the world, it became clear that we need to address the ‘Zoom fat’ that many of us feel, so I got over the first idea. I had this idea, ”she continued.
“We are a global company that works across time zones, but when our work is constantly pouring into evenings, early mornings and weekends, it can stop us from completely rebuilding, which is not good for you or, ultimately, for Citi. ”
Bankers have complained that their workloads have exploded during the pandemic. A group of young bankers at Goldman Sachs last week accused the bank of forcing them to suffer “inhuman” conditions, including working on a 100- week basis. hour.
Goldman boss David Solomon acknowledged that remote work placed too much pressure on employee health.
“In this world of remote working, it feels like we need to be connected 24/7. We all – colleagues, managers, our regional leaders – see that, ”he said in a memo. “We are here to provide support and guidance. This is not easy, and we are working hard to make it better. ”
Companies around the world are fighting to change working conditions during the pandemic and in a post-lockout world. The car company Ford has told its 30,000 employees that they can work from home even after the pandemic.