Royal Bank of Scotland Group has told over 50,000 of its staff to work from home until at least the end of September in a move which highlights the long-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The bank issued a memo to staff yesterday informing them that a meagre 400 employees would be asked to return to the office next month.

The 400 staff being asked to return are in regulated roles, such as trading, that cannot be conducted outside of the office for a long time. RBS has assured staff that they will face stringent safety measures to protect their wellbeing, including thermal imaging and temperature checks at the entrances to offices and a limit of two people to a lift.

These employees will join about 10,000 RBS staff who have continued to go into work in bank branches and call centres throughout the pandemic, The Times reports.

Alison Rose, RBS chief executive said: “We are now thinking about the most effective way to operate in the medium term, putting in place carefully considered measures for running the bank.”

RBS has said that it will review its working from home arrangements in September. Other safety measures that the lender has implemented in its offices include one-way corridors and a temporary ban on hot desking.

To enforce social distancing of staff, the bank has placed at least one empty desk between employees, and screens have been erected in other work areas.

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