At Deutsche Bank, U.S. interns were given a choice of whether they wanted to complete the program from home or the office. More than 90% said they wanted to be in person.
The firm consulted with top investment banking executives and junior bankers alike to make sure they would be comfortable coming into the office to advise the interns. Now the bank is crafting plans for how to collaborate when employees will still need to social distance in the offices.
“If someone is going through a spreadsheet, someone going up and pulling up directly next to them—some of those things I think won’t happen,” said Drew Goldman, global head of investment banking coverage and advisory at Deutsche Bank. “But I think for the most part you can get into a conference room and go through stuff with someone. I would say we’re going to be back to 85% to 90% normal.”
Goldman Sachs is planning to host 96% of its interns in person, excluding those in India, where the recent explosion in coronavirus cases has kept the program remote. After a week-long virtual training, interns will begin filing into the bank’s offices on June 14, the same day most workers are expected to return.
The firm is aware that many of its interns will have to quarantine upon arriving for the program, so it’s already helping them navigate those local restrictions. The bank’s wellness team will provide interns with a service that offers other health and safety tips.
“Every year it feels this way when the interns start, you feel the palpable energy in the building,” said Vicki Tung, Goldman’s global head of campus and early careers recruiting. “Obviously our goal is to bring back as many as possible for as long as possible, and I do truly believe that we are structured and organized in a way that we can do so safely.”
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.