World Bank Postpones Broader Return to Office Until January
World Bank Postpones Broader Return to Office Until January
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The World Bank Group delayed plans to have more employees return to its headquarters until January 2022, the latest in a string of organizations to postpone workplace-return plans as Covid-19 infections keep ticking up in the U.S.
The international lender pushed back the move to a 50% building-occupancy cap at its Washington offices until Jan. 3 “in an abundance of caution,” according to an internal staff message shared with Bloomberg News. “We believe this decision is in the best interest of WBG community health and safety and appropriately balances the potential impact on our clients.” The original date for the return was Sept. 7.
The World Bank Group comprises a number of entities including the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which employs more than 12,500 staff, 55% of whom are based in Washington. Thousands more work at International Finance Corp.
The number of Covid-19 cases has spiked across the country as the delta variant spreads, spurring companies to re-evaluate return-to-work plans and schools to return to virtual education, quarantines and mask requirements.
Charles Schwab Corp. last week postponed its return-to-office plans to no sooner than January. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. have announced vaccine requirements. Delta Air Lines Inc. on Wednesday said it will impose a $200 monthly surcharge on employees who aren’t vaccinated against Covid-19, becoming the first major U.S. company to levy a penalty to encourage workers to get protected.
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