Goldman Sachs: Bank boss rejects work from home as the 'new normal'

 

 
Goldman Sachs boss David Solomon has rejected remote working as a “new normal” and labelled it an “aberration” instead.
Mr Solomon said the investment bank had operated throughout 2020 with “less than 10% of our people” in the office.
His eagerness for workers to return to the office is at odds with many other firms, who have suggested that working from home could become permanent.
Mr Solomon suggested that it does not suit the work culture at Goldman Sachs.
“I do think for a business like ours, which is an innovative, collaborative apprenticeship culture, this is not ideal for us. And it’s not a new normal. It’s an aberration that we’re going to correct as soon as possible,” he told a conference on Wednesday. "I'm really not looking forward to going back into the office," Tom, a 35-year-old who works in urban planning, told the BBC.
He has enjoyed being more involved with his young children during the pandemic. But his employer is quite "stubborn" about wanting him back in five days a week.
"I have found the lack of understanding and support from the older generation of directors, as well as their eagerness to just go back to offices and not learn lessons really difficult."
He says his employer seems to assume there will be someone at home to cover childcare and other day-to-day demands, whereas the tech industry, where his wife works, allows more flexibility.
Tom is now looking for a new job that will offer him more choice.
"The best-case scenario for me would be two days in the office - to get that connection with colleagues - and two to three days at home."

Source: BBC