The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter.  As more and more of us get our jabs, the incidence of serious illness and death is falling.  But COVID-19 hasn’t gone away.
 
We’re pleased that the branch network senior leadership team recognises the on-going threat and has planned a slow, steady route out of lockdown.  This brief update covers what’s going to change when you get to work from Monday 24^th May.
 
Very little, as it happens, except more customers may return to branches as each nation continues to relax the rules and open up more services and venues.  Social distancing is still very important and must be observed at work and face coverings must still be worn in branch (colleagues as well as customers).  And if you can and are working from home (e.g. MaPAs), then you should continue to do so.  Here are the small changes:

• The limit of working in two branches per week across a pool will increase slightly to three – but only in limited exceptional circumstances (e.g. to keep a branch open or support mortgage appointments) and only if signed off by an Area Director. 
• CRM prompts will gradually return along with other support to refresh your product knowledge so you’re ready to start talking to customers again about their financial needs and to enhance the quality of their visit to branch.

That’s it for now.  But more change is likely next month given the UKs PM’s suggestion that – in England at least – all legal limits on social contact will be removed and remaining premises re-opened.
 
We’re talking to the bank right now about its plans for the next stage of lockdown easing.  And we want to know what you think.  Should screens be removed, for example?  What about masks – can you ditch them?  Do you still want free hand sanitizer at work?  There’s lots to think about. 
 
Tell us what worries you most and what safeguards you consider vital to your health and safety at work.  Complete a feedback form that will help shape our agenda.