NEW YORK—Citigroup has banned internal Zoom calls on Fridays in an effort to reduce some of the stresses related to working at home. The development comes at the same time the bank has also announced it plans to lease out some of its office space, indicating many of those workers will continue to work from home even if they return on a part-time basis.
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser announced the “Zoom-Free Fridays” policy in a company memo alongside other measures aimed at addressing “the relentlessness of the pandemic workday,” the New York Post reported.
“We are a global company that operates across time zones, but when our work regularly spills over into nights, very early mornings and weekends, it can prevent us from recharging fully, and that isn’t good for you nor, ultimately, for Citi,” Fraser stated in the memo, which Citi provided to The Post.
Fraser — the first woman to lead a major Wall Street bank — said she initially resisted cutting back on video calls, but came around after hearing colleagues around the world complain about “Zoom fatigue.”
Not Everyone is Exempt
While Friday calls within Citi will be audio-only, Fraser noted that staffers will still need to meet with regulators and clients by video, the Post said.
She also urged employees to avoid scheduling calls outside of their traditional pre-pandemic working hours and to use their vacation days. Fraser is leading by example — she said she’s taking a few days off at the end this month, “knowing I will come back with a fresher brain.”