Citi Bank allows Employees to Work Remotely for 2 Weeks

In a move that shows its continued support for hybrid working, Citi Bank has announced that its employees who follow a hybrid work model will be allowed to work remotely for two weeks of their choice in August.

Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company based in New York City. The company was formed in 1998 by the merger of Citicorp, the bank holding company for Citibank, and Travelers.

Citigroup is the third-largest banking institution in the United States by assets; alongside JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, it is one of the Big Four banking institutions of the United States. It is considered a systemically important bank by the Financial Stability Board, and is commonly cited as being “too big to fail”.

Sara Wechter, Citi’s Chief Human Resources Officer, explained in the memo that August is generally a slower time for business. Many clients and employees take vacations during this period, making it a convenient time to allow more flexible work options.

“We’ve chosen August because it’s traditionally a quieter time, when many people are already away on holiday,” Wechter wrote.

Citi has offered similar flexibility during December each year, but this is the first time since 2022 that they are extending such a policy for August.

A Strong Belief in Hybrid Work

Citi was one of the first banks to actively support hybrid work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bank is standing by its belief that flexible work options help attract and keep talented employees. Monday’s announcement reinforced that message: hybrid work is here to stay at Citi.

This makes Citi stand out in the banking industry, where several other major banks are moving in the opposite direction.

What Other Banks Are Doing

While Citi is offering more flexibility, some other big banks are tightening their rules about coming back to the office:

• JPMorgan Chase told all employees in January that starting from March 2025, they must come to the office five days a week. In a memo, JPMorgan said they know not everyone will agree, but they believe it’s the best way to manage the company.
• Bank of New York Mellon (BNY) asked employees to return to the office four days a week from September. However, they added that they don’t plan to increase it to five days unless necessary.
• Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced in May that their hybrid workers will now need to work from the office four days a week starting in September. This is a small change from last year, when employees had the option to come in three or four days.
• Scotiabank, another major Canadian bank, has also decided to require its employees in locations with enough office space to be in the office at least four days a week beginning in September.

Citi’s Approach vs Industry Trend

Citi’s decision to allow extra flexibility in August clearly shows that it values employee well-being and work-life balance. While other banks are increasing the number of required in-office days, Citi is taking a more relaxed approach during the slower business period.

This also shows that there is no single rule across the banking world. Some banks believe working from the office leads to better productivity and team management, while others, like Citi, see flexible work as a way to keep employees happy and productive.

What It Means for Employees

For Citi’s hybrid employees, this policy means they can choose any two weeks in August to work from home, from a holiday destination, or even from another city – as long as they stay connected and continue their work. It gives employees more control over their time and might even help with family holidays or personal plans.