UK finance firms implement 'challenging' new COVID 19 rules Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London.
The finance firms of Britain have started issuing updated work from home guidance to staff after the government tightened up rules.
Auditor PwC said on Thursday that accountants will have to work from home because of stricter government COVID 19 guidance on how to work from home.
Britain has imposed tougher restrictions on Wednesday, requiring people to work from home to stop the spread of the Omicron coronaviruses variant.
Financial districts in the City of London and Canary Wharf have been busy with large numbers returning to the office in recent months, with employees in Britain's huge financial services sector returning to the office in large numbers.
Kevin Ellis, PwC's chairman and senior partner, said that we will always follow government guidelines, but there is no doubt that this will be a challenge for some sectors.
The majority of our people had returned to the office two to three days a week. Ellis said that it's the busy season for audit and there's lots of deal activity that benefits from some in person meetings.
PwC offices will remain open for people who have a business or personal need to use them, he said.
PwC, along with EY, Deloitte and KPMG are dubbed the Big Four and dominate auditing of blue-chip companies around the world, with the year end period being their busiest as accountants make checks for annual company reports ahead of publication.
EY and Deloitte said they asked staff to comply with the government guidance, even though their offices are still open for employees who need them.
A Deloitte spokesman said that they ask anyone who comes into our offices to wear a face mask and to have taken a lateral flow test within 48 hours of coming in.
The City of London CorporationLondon Corporation said the new restrictions will be a disappointment for business in the historic square mile financial district it governs.
Catherine McGuinness, the City's policy chair, said we will urge businesses, workers, and residents to follow the new rules.
We ask the government to set out a clear roadmap to normality early in the new year and base all decisions on data. She said that the economy needs to be able to prosper because of the virus.
The bank said that it was discouraging to work social gatherings in what would normally be a busy time for Christmas parties and that banks had revised guidance for staff, including Deutsche Bank, which told its nearly 8,000 staff in Britain.
The staff at Deutsche Bank London offices will be reduced from Monday, though employees with certain roles such as traders or those with personal reasons can still go in.
The move comes a day after Jefferies Financial Group told staff to work from home again and cancelled all client parties after a spate of COVID 19 cases.