Goldman Sachs is requiring its US bankers to disclose whether or not they have been vaccinated against Covid-19 ahead of a planned return to the office next week.
In a memo sent to staff that was seen by the Financial Times, Goldman told employees that responses are required by noon eastern time on Thursday.
“Registering your vaccination status allows us to plan for a safer return to the office for all of our people as we continue to abide by local public health measures,” the bank said in the memo, the contents of which were first reported by the New York Times.
“While we strongly encourage you to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, we understand that the choice to get vaccinated is a personal one,” the memo read.
The required disclosure by Goldman is an example of the complexities for employers of ensuring a return to office life following the huge disruption from the coronavirus pandemic.
Goldman is aiming to bring US staff back to the office on June 14, the bank told employees last month.
It had previously told staff they could voluntarily say whether or not they had been vaccinated, and that employees could work in the office without a mask if they had been vaccinated.
US banks such as Goldman have opted for a more aggressive return-to-office stance compared with the gradual approach favoured by European banks.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in December clarified that companies could bar employees from workplaces if they refused to be vaccinated, subject to religious and medical exemptions.