Companies are being cautious in reopening their offices after the easing of the work-from-home mandate.Phase 3 of the reopening of the economy has allowed employers to bring employees back to their regular workplace, although government guidelines suggest those who can work from home should continue to do so.For businesses built on relationships and used to walk-in customers, such as local insurers and banks, the easing of restrictions creates a chance to boost face-to-face services.Argus Insurance’s offices on Wesley Street, Hamilton, are reopening, but employees are not obliged to return to the office.Kellianne Smith, senior vice-president, people, Americas at Argus, said: “We are giving staff the option. While we understand the importance of preparing our buildings with cleaning and sanitising, it is paramount to ensure that our staff are truly ready to return.“We want to mitigate any fears and anxieties they may have. Some of our colleagues are vulnerable, high risk or live with family members who are susceptible to this virus.” Ms Smith added that some miss the office’s social side.“Many have stated that they truly miss their colleagues, the face-to-face connectivity and camaraderie that the office provides,” Ms Smith said. “Their health, safety and overall wellness remains top priority.”Argus employees have been surveyed on their preferences to work from home, in the office, or some of both, and the data is being analysed. Ms Smith added that remote working had been a success, with 98 per cent of Argus’s international workforce working from home within the first week. Alison Hill, the Argus Group’s chief executive officer, recorded weekly “vlogs” to keep the team “inspired and connected”.Ms Smith said the company had been impressed with employees’ agility, commitment and dedication while working from home.“Individual productivity was not compromised — in fact, we’ve had to encourage our staff to take vacation during this period,” Ms Smith said. “There was a formal acknowledgement of the necessity of taking sufficient time out for self-care and creating the appropriate boundaries while working from home.“We want to provide flexibility — the world is redefining what it means to be a remote worker, some employees really enjoy it, and for some it was a small shift as we already had a sizeable base of remote workers. “If working from home becomes a permanent way of life, we will ensure our people have what they need to be successful.”BF&M plans to reopen its offices on Pitts Bay Road on June 22, but two-thirds of staff will continue to work from home.“We will have a core team of customer-facing staff returning to the office,” a spokeswoman for the insurer said.“The safety of our staff and customers is our first priority. We were the first insurer to close our office during the onset of Covid-19 out of caution, and we will not rush to reopen until we have fully prepared the building.” She added that when customers return, they will see social-distancing measures in place, screen protection at all counters and sanitising stations. “We are restricting mornings to serve our senior customers only,” she added. Remote working has been going well for BF&M.“Not only have we continued to service our regular business via phone and e-mail, but we have taken on the extra demands and call volumes related to the temporary pension refund in our stride,” the spokeswoman said. She added that there had been a “significant increase” in customers setting up online accounts, enabling them to do business through the insurer’s website. Clarien Bank’s main branch on Reid Street, Hamilton, will return to the normal business hours of 9am until 4pm, Monday to Friday, as of next Tuesday.A spokesman for the bank said: “Clarien believes the safest way to protect our people is for them to remain working from home where practical. “There are, however, a few key functions that are more efficiently completed from the office, including our branch, securities and some IT roles.”The bank will listen to health ministry guidance, “while also assessing the needs of our clients to determine the need of bring additional services back in office”, the spokesman added.“Tellers and operations staff will be coming into the office and will continue adhering to health and safety precautions at this time,” he said. “In addition to face masks, which must be worn at all times in common areas of the building, we are encouraging physical distancing of 6ft to be maintained.”Clients’ meetings with relationship managers will continue to be virtual, where possible, and under health ministry guidance when in person.The spokesman added: “Clarien’s priority throughout this pandemic has been keeping clients and employees safe and we are committed to supporting our clients and the broader community in stimulating the local economy.”