UK watchdog tells bankers to be strict about office working

LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Britain's financial industry
staff should work from home where possible, with only truly
essential staff going to the office, the Financial Conduct
Authority said on Thursday.

Bankers had begun returning to the office in recent weeks
after a lockdown that began in March in response to the
coronavirus pandemic.

The government has said people should work from home
wherever possible from Thursday, the day it reported the highest
number of daily COVID-19 cases so far.

The FCA republished its criteria for banks and other
financial firms on who can be designated an "essential worker"
and work from the office.

"It remains important for financial services firms to
continue to identify and monitor key workers to ensure that
firms respond effectively in the event of further local or
national lockdowns," it said.

The FCA said key workers should have a letter signed by a
senior company official stating they have been designated an
essential worker in line with the criteria set out by the
watchdog.

The government has said that reimposed pandemic restrictions
could last up to six months.

Earlier on Thursday, the FCA said banks and investment firms
need more "creative solutions" to avoid misconduct by staff set
to work from home for longer than expected due to the pandemic's
second wave.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)