Goldman and – Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan—two banks that have largely demanded five days a week in the office—are now letting employees request to work from home on World Cup game days in major host cities, citing commute disruptions. The move comes as a survey projects wide
For firms that have pushed hard for five days a week back in the office, the summer exception is surprisingly simple: the World Cup.
Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase have reportedly told employees they can request to work remotely on game days in busy host cities where commutes are likely to be heavily affected. Internal memos seen by the Financial Times say this applies to JPMorgan workers in all three North America countries hosting matches—the U.S. Canada. and Mexico—during the tournament period.
In New York City and the New York/New Jersey area, the pressure is obvious. Hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to flood the region for the soccer games, and employees are being given a path to avoid the worst of the commute disruptions rather than forcing everyone to show up anyway.
Goldman Sachs clarified to Fast Company that it is encouraging employees to communicate with their managers about their commute during the World Cup. JPMorgan Chase told Fast Company that its buildings are operating business as usual. but it is notifying impacted workers that they should work with their manager if they need alternative work arrangements.
This isn’t happening in a vacuum. A person familiar with the matter said Citigroup is encouraging employees working hybrid schedules to talk with their managers if their commute will be disrupted. That same person said a majority of Citi employees work in hybrid roles.
The tournament itself runs across multiple locations, stretching the planning burden for employers. Over the next three and a half weeks through July 19. the World Cup is taking place in 16 host cities across North America. including 11 in the United States: Atlanta. Boston. Dallas. Houston. Kansas City. Los Angeles. Miami. New York/New Jersey. Philadelphia. San Francisco Bay Area. and Seattle. The schedule includes 48 teams playing a total of 100 games.
The commercial and operational stakes are large. An estimated 5 billion people around the world are expected to tune into the soccer matches or attend in person—averaging over 128 million viewers a day. A survey also suggests many workers are already preparing to miss time.
That study. from workforce management software company UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group). found that 27% of employees of those surveyed said they’ll probably miss work. either by coming in late. leaving early. or skipping work altogether. Another 22% expect to show up tired or exhausted. UKG reported that 11% admit they’ll clock in hungover, and 14% plan to secretly stream matches while on the clock.
Taken together. the cost estimate is steep: the survey suggests the disruptions could cost companies up to $17 billion globally. including $11.7 billion in the U.S. The practical logic for allowing remote work—at least during game days in affected areas—is straightforward for managers staring at both productivity loss and clogged roads.
The World Cup is turning a long-standing office push into a short-term negotiation over logistics. For employees. the difference is immediate: instead of fighting a commute shaped by millions of fans. they can ask to work from home. coordinate alternative arrangements with their managers. and try to keep the workday from spilling into the match day chaos.
Goldman Sachs JPMorgan Chase return to office World Cup remote work commute disruptions hybrid work Citigroup UKG productivity loss workplace attendance