Record all your work calls at home, UK watchdog tells bankers

By Huw Jones

LONDON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Bankers must record all
communications while working from home, Britain's Financial
Conduct Authority said on Friday, ending the leeway it
introduced last year when the first pandemic lockdown began.

"At the start of the pandemic, if your firm moved to an
alternative site or a working from home arrangement, we asked
you to consider the broader control environment in view of the
new circumstances," the Financial Conduct Authority said in
guidance that was updated on Friday.

"Given the extensive duration of these arrangements, we now
expect you to record all relevant communications (including
voice calls) when working outside the office," it said.

Britain entered its first lockdown in March last year, and
this week began a third lockdown as cases of coronavirus surged
and the government told people to work from home if they can.

During the first lockdown, the FCA told bankers to continue
to record calls, though noting that there may be some scenarios
where this was not possible.

Working from home makes it harder for a banks' compliance
officials to check that traders are not breaking rules, such as
using personal phones for work-related calls.

The FCA began warning banks in October they must apply the
same standards of surveillance and conduct to staff working from
home or in the office.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by David Evans)