Employees will be required on-site for most of the week starting this fall
TD Bank will require most of its employees to return to the office four days a week beginning this fall, marking another step away from the flexible work arrangements that became common during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a memo seen by Reuters, TD Bank Group chief human resources officer Melanie Burns said executive-level staff must begin working from the office at least four days a week starting October 6. Non-executive employees are expected to follow the same schedule by early November.
“Many locations will be ready to accommodate this change by November 3,” Burns wrote in the internal memo, adding that flexibility may be allowed at managers’ discretion in certain cases.
Focus on collaboration and culture
Burns emphasized that in-person work supports better collaboration, decision-making, learning, and outcomes. It also improves career development and company culture, she said, echoing sentiments expressed by other banking leaders who have made similar moves in recent months.
The bank said it is focused on preparing office spaces to meet staff needs and is committed to a smooth transition.
Part of a wider shift among Canadian banks
TD Bank is the latest major Canadian lender to tighten its hybrid work model. In May, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced that employees must work on-site three to four days per week starting in September. RBC executives cited concerns about declining productivity and the erosion of its “relationship-driven” culture.
Bank of Montreal (BMO) has also instructed employees to return to the office four days weekly beginning Sept. 15, where space permits.
This return-to-office momentum among Canada’s largest financial institutions mirrors a broader trend across North America. US banks such as JPMorgan Chase, which mandated five-day in-person schedules for hybrid employees earlier this year, have taken even stricter measures.
Changing office dynamics
The shift comes as downtown business districts across Canada gradually recover. According to CBRE Group Inc., the national downtown office vacancy rate in Q1 2025 dropped slightly to 19.9%, its first improvement since the pandemic began.
Though some employees across companies have expressed concerns about commute times and workplace readiness, employers continue to argue that in-person engagement is essential to long-term competitiveness.
TD Bank has not disclosed how many of its employees will be impacted by the mandate.
What are your thoughts on the recent mandates from banks? Share your insights in the comments below.
