Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, known for their hardline return-to-office mandates, are temporarily easing those requirements this summer. Employees in busy World Cup host cities like New York can now request to work from home on game days, according to internal memos seen by the Financial Times.
The shift comes as hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to flood the New York area for matches, causing significant commute disruptions. Both banks had previously required most staff to be in the office five days a week, making this a notable departure from their typical policies.
Goldman Sachs told Fast Company it is encouraging workers to communicate with managers about their commute during the tournament. JPMorgan Chase said its buildings are operating as usual but is notifying impacted employees to coordinate with supervisors. The policy applies to all JPMorgan workers in North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
This temporary flexibility may set a precedent for how financial firms handle large-scale events in the future. It also highlights the ongoing tension between employer demands for in-person work and employee preferences for hybrid schedules, especially during disruptive events.
Critics argue the move undermines the banks' stated commitment to in-office collaboration and could embolden employees to push for more permanent remote work arrangements. Others see it as a pragmatic response to unavoidable logistical challenges.