Several Canadian financial institutions are delaying their return-to-office plans as concerns increase about the highly-transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant.

Scotiabank is pausing a planned return to the workplace for head office employees, following the latest coronavirus pandemic guidance from the Ontario government. In an emailed statement to Benefits Canada, a spokesperson from the bank said timing of the phased return — which was set to begin Jan. 17, 2022 — will be reassessed in the new year.

Read: Employers in U.S. rethinking return-to-office plans in wake of Omicron variant

“We continue to make decisions based on guidance from our medical advisors, available data and in consultation with government partners. When an eventual return does begin, it will be staggered for different groups with the majority of head office employees working in a hybrid model.”

The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is also delaying its return to the office and asking all Canadian employees who are working remotely to continue doing so for the time being, according to an emailed statement to Benefits Canada. Last week, CIBC said it was planning to welcome employees back to the workplace on a hybrid basis in early 2022.

And in an emailed statement to Benefits Canada, a spokesperson from Toronto-Dominion Bank said a return to the workplace for office-based employees will depend on factors such as local pandemic conditions and physical distancing guidelines.

Read: City of Toronto delaying return-to-office plans due to Omicron variant

The Bank of Montreal and the Royal Bank of Canada didn’t respond to Benefits Canada’s requests for comment.

The Canadian Press reported this week that National Bank of Canada and Sun Life Financial Inc. are also delaying return-to-office plans and asking employees to continue working remotely.

And the City of Toronto has also paused its return-to-office plans. While all fully-vaccinated office-based employees were set to be back in the workplace, at least some of the time, starting on Jan. 4, 2022, that plan has now been put on ice.

Read: City of Toronto, Scotiabank rolling out return-to-office plans