Capital One to reopen offices in September

McLean-based Capital One Financial Corp. will return to U.S. offices in a hybrid model on Sept. 6, CEO Richard Fairbank announced Wednesday.

Capital One has delayed planned hybrid reopenings twice, from September 2021 to November 2021, and then indefinitely when the company announced its decision to postpone again in October 2021.

“As we get closer to September, we will closely monitor the health environment and the state of COVID-19 in our communities. If health conditions do not support a safe reopening, we will be ready to delay our planned reopening,” Fairbank said in his statement.

In Capital One’s initial hybrid work model, Mondays and Fridays will be virtual work days, although offices will be open with limited services for employees who want to work in the office. From Tuesdays through Thursdays, the offices will be fully open and employees are “strongly encouraged” to come into the office, but in-office attendance will not be mandatory on specific days or over specific periods, according to a news release. Fully remote workers will need senior executive approval.

“We expect teams will develop their own rhythms of office attendance and meetings suited to the type of work they do and the number of locations involved. While leaders may encourage alignment of attendance, they should not be prescriptive about when associates have to come into the office,” Fairbank said in a statement.

The company might adjust its hybrid model in the fall based on feedback from employees and customers.

Offices are currently open for employees who choose to work in-person and provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. The company plans on requiring regular testing for employees who do not provide proof of vaccination against COVID and will provide information on its testing policy “later this summer.”