Wall Street Reluctant to Allow Remote Work... Temporarily Permits It Amid World Cup Traffic Chaos

Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Others Allow Remote Work

Major U.S. financial groups on Wall Street, including Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase, have decided to allow remote work during the World Cup period. This measure is intended to prepare for potential traffic congestion and commuting chaos.

Financial media outlet the Financial Times (FT) reported on the 13th (local time), citing Wall Street sources, that "large banks have warned of possible commuting difficulties in World Cup host cities such as New York," and "have allowed employees to request remote work on match days."

Fans watching the Brazil vs. Morocco match at the LA Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, USA, on the 13th (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The upcoming month-long North and Central America World Cup is expected to place a significant burden on transportation routes across the United States. In response, Wall Street banks are said to have taken preemptive action. It is anticipated that hundreds of thousands of soccer fans will flock to areas such as New York and New Jersey. In particular, New Jersey's MetLife Stadium will host a total of eight matches, including the final.

Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan have traditionally been strongly opposed to remote work on Wall Street. Goldman Sachs was the first major bank to rapidly end remote work that was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and JPMorgan last year ordered most of its employees to work in the office five days a week.

In the case of Goldman Sachs, even the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) has actively criticized remote work. CEO David Solomon described remote work as a "temporary aberration." JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon reportedly used expletive-laden language to criticize remote work policy during an internal town hall meeting last year.

Another Wall Street investment bank, Citigroup, which allowed flexible work for a period following COVID-19, is also known to have recommended hybrid work (a combination of office attendance and remote work) for its branches located in World Cup host cities during the tournament period.

Regarding these moves on Wall Street, FT commented, "Although financial companies have instructed employees to fully return to the office, remote work remains a useful emergency measure for managing situations of disruption."

Meanwhile, the 2026 North and Central America World Cup is being co-hosted by three countries: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. From June 11, a total of 104 matches are scheduled to be held over 39 days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.