TORONTO (Reuters), -Canadian’s highest health official Theresa Tam said Monday that the number of COVID-19 patients could increase rapidly due to Omicron variant spread.

Companies have delayed their return-to office plans due to concerns about the highly transmissible variant.

We have the most up-to-date plans from Canadian insurers and banks to send staff back to work.

Bank of Nova Scotia – Scotiabank has put on hold plans to start a gradual return of its Toronto staff from January 17. The return will take place in stages for various groups. Most head-office staff will use a hybrid model of working.

Sun Life Financial Inc. (NYSE): Canada’s 2nd-largest life insurer has halted work to reopen its pilot program for new employees. It will remain open until the 31 January.

For most of its Canadian 12,000 employees, the company offers a flexible return to office approach that allows them to select where they work.

National Bank of Canada, (OTC): Canada’s sixth largest lender has requested that employees work remotely.

Royal Bank of Canada: While most of its 61,000 employees work from home, many are returning to the office or planning on doing so in the weeks and months ahead. Some of these employees will switch to a hybrid model where they work from home but also at the office.

Every business region and group is working out the best arrangements. Employees will be notified at least 4 weeks in advance of their return to work.

Toronto-Dominion Bank: Although employees working remotely are unlikely to be able to return to bank locations by 2022, the bank is monitoring the situation. When conditions permit, the bank will prepare for employees to return home to TD locations.

Bank of Montreal: Canada’s fourth-largest bank has asked its investment bankers to go back to working from home until the week of Jan. 17, according to a Bloomberg News report https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-16/bank-of-montreal-asks-investment-bankers-to-work-from-home?sref=vEQJzSks.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce: Canada’s fifth largest lender, the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has requested that its employees work remotely. Plans to return to their original location were halted in January.

Manulife Financial NYSE:: Canada’s most important life insurer, Manulife Financial has pushed forward its North American return-to office date. This is according to a memo Reuters received. The U.S. had previously planned for Jan. 24, as the date of its return to office.

In addition, the banks and insurers have put in place mandatory vaccination policies https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/canadas-major-banks-require-employees-entering-premises-be-vaccinated-2021-08-20 that employees will need to follow to return to their premises.