No longer is a September return a target for many companies. Some employers, such as banking giant Wells Fargo & Co. WFC 3.79% and managed-care company Centene Corp. CNC -0.64% , have in recent days shifted return-to-office dates to October. Meanwhile, a range of other prominent companies now predict it will be 2022 until most workers return.

Amazon.com Inc. on Thursday delayed its return for corporate employees to at least Jan. 3, from September. Lyft Inc. pushed back its planned office reopening to February 2022. Other companies, such as Dell Technologies Inc., DELL 0.20% have postponed fall returns in the U.S. without giving new reopening dates. Business travel at the company also remains largely restricted…

The delays come at a precarious time for many companies and workers. White-collar employees, while often not eager to give up remote arrangements entirely, have looked forward to some measure of normalcy in the coming months, with more in-person interactions with colleagues. Bosses remain concerned about their workers’ mental health and how to keep them motivated as the pandemic drags on.