Banks in China Rushing Staff to Return to Office Despite Amid COVID Surge

Several Chinese financial institutions are asking staff to return to the office amid increasing absences of traders and important employees in the last week due to the disruptions in operations because of a new surge in COVID-19 cases.

Sinolink Securities Co. is requesting staff that was previously sick or quarantined at home for seven days to come back to work once they stop showing symptoms. While other staff that tested negative but were exposed to family members that tested positive are likewise asked to return to the office. The broker says that low attendance has posed challenges to their operations.

The media representative of Sinolink has mentioned that the company is still prioritizing workplace safety, employees’ well-being, and business continuity.

Another fund management firm had since dropped a requirement in which employees can return to the office only after a negative COVID-19 test result is taken within 72 hours. Department heads were likewise asked to keep as many people working in the office as necessary to make sure business would still run.

Asset managers are reported to be making rare compromises by allowing traders that tested positive to trade remotely for the first time. Firms are asking employees to also have surveillance cameras installed at home to ensure that transactions can be monitored by employers.

China is currently dealing with another surge in COVID-19 infections, which are approximately nearing 37 million in a single day last week. The surge is pushing cities such as those in the manufacturing hub of Zhejian province in asking workers that tested positive with mild symptoms to return to work.

Source: Business Mirror