Banking
UBS splits Hong Kong workforce into teams as COVID-19 cases rise
Published by maria gbaf
Posted on January 6, 2022
2 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by maria gbaf
Posted on January 6, 2022
2 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
UBS splits its Hong Kong workforce into two groups to alternate office weeks due to rising COVID-19 cases, aligning with new city restrictions.
HONG KONG (Reuters) – UBS Group will split its 2,500 Hong Kong workforce into two groups with each returning to the workplace on alternate weeks, as the city tightens curbs amid a spike in COVID-19 cases, according to an internal memo to staff seen by Reuters.
A spokesman for the bank confirmed the contents of the memo that was sent to staff on Thursday.
The move comes amid worries of a fifth wave of COVID-19 infections in the Asian financial hub. Hong Kong has announced a two-week ban on some inbound flights, slapped curbs on indoor dining and closed swimming pools, bars and other venues.
The city recorded 38 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday.
UBS staff have been told to minimise “cross floor” travel in the bank‘s offices to reduce the risk of contamination and not to socialise with members not in their own team, according to the memo.
Standard Chartered divided its 6,000 workforce into teams earlier this week.
Banks in Hong Kong have been operating at near full capacity for the past few months, unlike most other major financial centres like New York or London, as the city stuck to a zero-COVID strategy by largely isolating itself from the world.
(Reporting by Scott Murdoch in Hong Kong; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
The main topic is UBS splitting its Hong Kong workforce into teams due to rising COVID-19 cases and new city restrictions.
UBS is splitting its workforce to minimize COVID-19 risks and comply with new restrictions in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has imposed a two-week ban on some flights, restricted indoor dining, and closed certain venues to curb COVID-19.
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