JPMorgan Chase Asks Employees to Work From Home to Test a Coronavirus Contingency Plan

Investment banking company JPMorgan Chase is asking 10% of its consumer bank staff to work from home for the bank’s coronavirus contingency plan codenamed “Project Kennedy.” According to Bloomberg, JPMorgan’s consumer bank, which primarily operates in the U.S., has 127,137 employees, the most of any of the firm’s divisions.

The contingency plan is part of preparation for a scenario wherein the bank closes its offices in the U.S. because of a further spread of the coronavirus.

The test comes as other companies around the world restrict employee travel and temporarily close offices in an effort to prevent the rise of COVID-19 cases. Business Insider reported that companies in London asked hundreds of employees to work from home in February, including 300 Chevron employees.

“Ford told Business Insider on Tuesday that it is restricting company travel globally until March 27,” said the report. Google has also stopped international business travel after an employee in the company's Zurich office tested positive for the coronavirus.

Bloomberg reported that “JPMorgan’s leaders have been double-checking contingency plans to be sure the firm can continue to serve customers in the event of widespread disruptions.”