A trade union has criticised NatWest’s decision to make in-office attendance mandatory for staff for a minimum of two days per week from February.
NatWest has informed employees that the new requirement will come into effect next month, asking staff to be physically present in its offices on at least two days each week. The bank characterised the step as a change to its working arrangements.
The union attacked the plans, expressing opposition to the bank’s timetable for the return-to-office requirement. Representatives said they opposed the imposition of a minimum on office attendance and raised concerns about how the change will affect staff who have adopted hybrid or remote working since the pandemic.
The move adds to a wider debate in the corporate sector about the balance between remote and office-based work. Many employers have been reassessing flexible working arrangements introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, with some pushing for more regular in-person attendance to support collaboration and others arguing for continued remote options to retain staff.
NatWest’s announcement sets a clear date for the new requirement; how the bank and the union will resolve their disagreements was not detailed in the initial statement. The measures are due to begin in February and will apply across the bank’s UK workforce.