No rush back to the office for most staff at city’s largest firms
Bosses reveal how they will cope with safety measures
THERE will be no return to normal among Birmingham’s biggest firms this month – despite a Government drive to get people back in the office.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps declared it was now safe for people to return to work in offices as home working ‘has limits’.
He urged employers to make arrangements to ensure offices are safe as social distancing measures are still recommended.
But many big firms in Birmingham are still finding safety measures a challenge due to large staff numbers.
Financial services giant KPMG has a large office at One Snow Hill, which is normally home to more than 1,300 staff.
Though the office was initially closed, it reopened in July for those staff who need to be there for ‘work or wellbeing’ reasons.
However, this week it said it will continue to operate with reduced desk numbers and has developed an app informing staff if there is space in the office.
Karl Edge, Birmingham office senior partner at KPMG, said: “We began to open our offices at the beginning of July to accommodate our colleagues who have a business-critical need or prefer to work in the office because of personal circumstances or wellbeing.
“Our key priority is the health and wellbeing of our people and over the coming months we will ensure that no one has to travel or return to an office before they feel ready to do so and we know that our teams are productive and working well remotely.
“However, to support colleagues returning to KPMG offices and client sites we are providing return to work packs and equipment alongside detailed guidance and support.
“We have also developed a KPMG UK Return App, which can be used before going into the office or to a client site, so colleagues can undertake a risk assessment in line with Government guidance.
“This will check that staff are in a safe position to return and are comfortable to do so.
“In the short term, our premises do look and feel very different. Our facilities team has worked hard to implement social distancing measures, which mean a reduced number of desks are available. We are also asking all colleagues to wear face coverings in communal areas.”
HS2 Ltd employs more than 1,500 people, most at its headquarters next door to KPMG at Two Snow Hill.
The construction side of the controversial high speed rail project was paused for a week at the beginning of lockdown and all office staff began working from home.
But the offices are now open under strict social distancing and more staff will be encouraged to return in the next few weeks infection rates fall, say bosses. An HS2 spokesman said: “Following a week-long pause at the start of the lockdown, the majority of HS2 construction sites have been operating throughout the pandemic, helping to keep the economy going.
“Our offices are open but with strict social distancing and other measures in place.
“We remain vigilant of the situation in Birmingham and anticipate that, if infection rates fall, we would continue to encourage more staff to return to the office in the coming weeks and months.”
HSBC UK opened its UK retail banking headquarters in Centenary Square in 2018 with around 2,500 members of staff.
During lockdown all staff not working in branches began working from home and none have returned to the office yet.
And the banking giant said only 20 per cent of colleagues can return depending on whether social distancing is possible.
However, its plans are under constant review as Government guidance develops.
An HSBC UK spokesman: “In terms of return to work, our position is unchanged at the moment. Staff outside our branch network are working from home where that is possible.
“We continue to follow government guidance and keep this under review.”
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