Welcome back to The Measure Monthly!

Today, we’re diving into some of this month’s hot topics, including return-to-office mandates, healthy building standards, and generative AI.

Are WFH days over for bankers? 💸

More and more banks are ordering employees back into the office close to five days a week, due to new regulations that crack down on supervising work at home.

💼 Citigroup is requiring around 600 US employees that were previously eligible to work remotely to commute to the office full time

🧑‍⚖️ At HSBC, shifting regulations affect about 530 staff in New York – roughly half of its workforce in the city – and the bank is speaking to them about their options

🧑‍💻 From 1st June, Barclays will require thousands of investment banking staff globally to spend five days a week either in the office or traveling to see clients

The changes come as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) – the US brokerage industry’s main watchdog – is set to reinstate pre-pandemic rules for monitoring workplaces in the next couple of weeks. 

A lot of bosses have decided that allowing working from home isn’t worth the trouble or the cost. But FINRA has shot back, saying that, if anything, they’re trying to allow greater flexibility – not less.

Either way, a lot of banks are choosing to take the path of least resistance and deciding it’s the time to bring employees back to the office full time.

Will the mandates backfire? We guess we’ll have to wait and see…

Are healthy building standards fit for purpose? 🏆

Healthy building standards have grown in popularity over recent years, encouraging companies to hit key standards to promote occupant health and wellbeing. But do they go far enough?

In the latest episode of Michael Squared – hosts Michael Pryztula and Michael Grant discussed some of the limitations associated with these types of certifications.

❌ They rely on quick, one-off tests that don’t factor in seasonal changes

❌ They don’t reflect the real conditions experienced by occupants

❌ They don’t encourage ongoing improvement

Instead, they agreed we need standards that encourage continuous monitoring and progress. With accurate data about key parameters like indoor air quality and energy usage, companies can:

✅ Increase transparency and build trust with building occupants

✅ Uncover inefficiencies and manage their spaces more proactively 

✅ Create workplaces that are truly healthy and productive

To find out more, watch the full episode here.

Are companies just using AI as a buzzword? 🐝

Last week, our co-founder and COO Michael Grant shared a LinkedIn post, suggesting that a lot of companies talking about AI don’t have enough high-quality, aggregated data to do anything meaningful with it.

As you can see, his post received lots of attention and sparked a lot of conversation. If you want to have your say, you can comment on the original post here.

Events you might be interested in 🏳️‍🌈

With Pride month just around the corner, we thought we’d share a couple of events that might be worth adding to your calendar.

Out in Tech | London 

When? Wednesday 5th June, 6-9pm BST

Where? 16 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7HS

What? An evening of networking and fun and a great chance to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Get your free ticket

Out in Tech | New York

When? Wednesday 5th June, 5-8pm ET

Where? 71 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10003

What? An evening filled with inspiring speakers, and a panel that can be joined virtually at 6pm BST.

Get your free ticket

WorkPride | Global

When? Monday 17th June to Friday 21st June

Where? Virtual

What? A five-day event for attendees to network, share best practices, and learn strategies to create more inclusive workplaces.

Get your free ticket