(WFSB) - Businesses in downtown Hartford received some exciting news Friday as Travelers Insurance and The Hartford have announced that their employees are heading back to the office in just a matter of weeks.
One downtown restaurant owner says these workers have been missed and they are ready for them.
"It means a ton to the businesses downtown. As you guys know, the insurance companies and businesses down here are the heart and soul of this town," Bill Carbone, owner of Sorella, tells us.
Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin says it’s a positive step forward.
“It’s been a long two years where tens of thousands of employees who are normally working downtown everyday haven’t been here and we are thrilled and ready to welcome them back,” he said.
In a statement Travelers said some of their employees: “Have already started to come into the office on a voluntary basis, and beginning March 14, employees will be returning on a broader scale with the option of a hybrid work arrangement.”
The Hartford says due to the decline of COVID cases, their senior leaders will return March 21 and a great deal of their workers will return starting April 4.
Sorella says this return has been a long time coming.
"We survived and we are thriving, and we are doing pretty well downtown, but this is just another shot in the arm to keep us going," Sorella added.
Channel 3 reached out to Aetna on their return-to-work plan.
LEZLA GOODEN
FEB 18, 2022
