Two to three cups of coffee each day has been said to have positive qualities for health. Getty Images
Two to three cups of coffee each day has been said to have positive qualities for health. Getty Images
Two to three cups of coffee each day has been said to have positive qualities for health. Getty Images
Two to three cups of coffee each day has been said to have positive qualities for health. Getty Images

Goldman Sachs calls time on working from home


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Goldman Sachs plans to have UK and US staff return to its offices next month, in an unsurprising development after chief executive David Solomon in February called home working "an aberration".

UK employees should be ready on June 21 and US staff by June 14, according to an internal memo reported by Bloomberg.

The move follows an announcement last week from JPMorgan Chase that its workforce would be reincorporated into its offices on rotation from July.

Other finance companies are also starting to set policies for an eventual return.

Vanguard Group said it was planning a hybrid model for most of its 17,300 employees, and Ken Griffin’s Citadel expects to have most US staff back in its offices by June 1.

At Deutsche Bank, New York City workers will be allowed to work from home until July at least.

David Solomon joins JP Morgan chief Jamie Dimon in counting on an expanding vaccination drive to hasten the revival of pre-pandemic routines in an industry where many have spent 14 months working online.

The two have been at the forefront in planning the most pressing timelines for returns to offices, which are likely to put pressure on other firms.

“We are focused on progressing on our journey to gradually bring our people back together again, where it is safe to do so,” Mr Solomon said in the memo.

An Accenture survey of 400 North American financial-services executives found that almost 80 per cent preferred workers to spend four to five days in the office when the pandemic is over.

Such plans could face resistance from staff, many of whom want to keep flexible schedules after proving they could stay productive while working from home, Accenture said.

In New York, home to the two banking giants, plans are under way to reopen fully in two weeks, marked by the return of arenas, gyms, stores, restaurants and hair salons, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Monday.

Most capacity restrictions will also be lifted across New Jersey and Connecticut, while all-day subway service will resume in the city this month.

Goldman’s management is unlikely to follow a similar schedule in other countries as the virus charts an uneven course across the globe.

That is especially true for the firm’s large operations in Covid-ravaged India.

More on working from home

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Could an 'active work station' be the answer to injuries caused by working from home?

Cultural fiesta

What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421,  Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day. 

New Zealand 57-0 South Africa

Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett

From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait,  Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.