Highest number of employees at their desks since Plan B was introduced

Traffic was at 52 per cent of normal demand at shopping centers and West End stations such as Stratford, Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Circus.

Last summer, some bank bosses criticized employees for working from home while visiting recreational destinations in their free time.

James Gorman, head of investment bank Morgan Stanley, said at the time: “If you can go to a restaurant in New York City, you can come to the office.”

Though the city is beginning to come back to life, the shift to working from home for at least part of the week has prompted some businesses to review their office space needs.

The Telegraph reported that Clifford Chance is considering plans to reduce the size of its global headquarters in Canary Wharf by up to two-thirds.

Law firm Magic Circle occupies 10 Upper Bank Street, a 1-million-square-foot skyscraper, but has reportedly concluded that most of that space is no longer needed.

Similarly, Lloyd’s of London said last month it was considering leaving its Richard Rogers-designed City headquarters as it adapted to “new structures and flexible ways of working”.

In September, John Neal, chief executive officer of Lloyd’s, said the city’s firms had a duty to bring workers back into the office so younger workers could advance their careers and learn from older colleagues.

He said: “I think it’s hugely important for younger workers to experience in-person trading. We have the best talent in the world in London in the insurance industry.

“But we have to be with that talent to develop it so that the next generation can be better than my generation. We have a responsibility to the next generation.”

The Government has previously estimated the cost of Plan B measures, which included advice to work from home, would cost the economy £800million a week.

Based on the same figures, an increase in workplace attendance of under 40 per cent would still hit the economy at £500m a week, or £26bn a year.