NatWest has tightened office attendance rules for over 30,000 staff, requiring remote-first and hybrid employees to work from the office at least twice a week starting in February. The policy affects 13,500 remote-first workers, previously limited to two monthly office days, and 17,000 hybrid staff who currently attend three times a fortnight. The changes have sparked union backlash, with Unite's Sharon Graham condemning the move as "another kick in the teeth" for workers facing real-terms pay cuts.
Union officials argue homeworking is essential for balancing caring responsibilities and managing health conditions. NatWest maintains the shift is necessary to foster collaboration, idea-sharing, and relationship-building among teams. The bank states it will support colleagues through the transition, emphasizing that flexible working remains an important part of operations.
The policy excludes the "office first" cohort, comprising much of NatWest's remaining 59,000 workforce, who are already expected in the office four times weekly. This move follows similar, often more forceful, return-to-office mandates from US banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs, reflecting a broader industry trend to end pandemic-era remote-working cultures in financial services.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing