And finally…Goldman Sachs to provide home nannies to keep staff at their desks

The move seems to be part of the firm’s attempts to reform its long-held image as the global financial sector’s most brutal enforcers of the industry’s harshest working and employment practices.

The domestic support initiative follows on from the provision of creches at its offices, and funds for free gender reassignment surgery and fertility treatment for employees.

And the US bank, which has around 6,000 employees in the UK, has also previously offered to ship working mothers’ breast milk home if they are posted overseas.

Its latest policy includes paying for carers for adult family members who are suffering from mobility problems or who need help unexpectedly.

The programme will include:

Eligibility

Cost

Sally Boyle, Goldman Sachs European boss of human resources, said: “The policy is a result of ongoing conversations with staff on what would be helpful both inside and outside of work.

“Providing care to children, elderly parents or other dependants, is a significant part of many employees’ lives. It’s important we recognize the challenges that can come from balancing these commitments with work and do everything we can to support our employees and their families when the need arises.

“The firm recognises that back-up care is an essential benefit when your usual care arrangements break down. Beginning today, I am pleased to announce an expansion to our Back-Up Care programme in the UK, adding to the existing back-up childcare provision at the onsite Children’s Centre.”

Stressing the that the initiative was driven by a benevolence rather than productivity, Ms Boyle added: “We’re prepared to invest whatever it takes. This is about us wanting to look after our employees, not wanting to chain them to their desk.”