Goldman Sachs is joining many of its banking rivals by rolling back its return to office programme in the UK, as spiralling cases of the Omicron variant have prompted the government to roll out new restrictions.

The US investment bank, which started a widespread return to office programme in September, has told its 6,000 staff in its Plumtree Court headquarters to work from home if they can, Goldman Sachs International chief executive Richard Gnodde told employees on 10 December, according to a person familiar with the matter. The office will remain open for those who need it.