Tango-Tiger

Banking giant HSBC plans Zoom-free Friday afternoons for some UK staff in an effort to tackle stress caused by working from home during the pandemic.

The trial slotxo android program follows similar plans announced by other firms to boost well-being among employees.

It applies to its commercial banking unit, which covers current accounts, loans, mortgages and credit cards.

The move comes as HSBC pursues plans to shrink its office space by 40% in a post-pandemic shake-up.

HSBC confirmed it was testing the idea as part of a taskforce looking at the future of work in its UK bank, as first reported by the Telegraph newspaper.

"The trial will involve a number of people committing to not setting up Zoom meetings on a Friday afternoon to allow space for other work," said a spokesperson for the bank.

Work-life balance
The issue of work-life balance has been highlighted by one HSBC employee, 45-year-old Jonathan Frostick, who shared his thoughts on social media after suffering a heart attack.

Mr Frostick, a regulatory program manager, was taken to hospital on a Sunday afternoon after falling ill while preparing for the new working week.