Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
NatWest to require about 30,000 staff to spend more time in offices
NatWest plans to require about 30,000 staff to spend more time in its UK offices under a new attendance policy.
From February 2027, staff will generally have to be in the office at least two days a week.
The change will affect 13,497 employees currently classed as remote-first, who attend around twice a month, as well as hybrid workers whose office attendance will increase.
NatWest says working together in person helps teams collaborate, share ideas and learn.
Unite, the staff union, says the policy could increase travel and childcare costs and disrupt arrangements for carers and disabled workers.
The bank says it will give staff time to plan and support them through the change.
NatWest will require staff to spend at least two days a week in the office from February 2027, ending its remote-first arrangements for thousands of employees.
The change affects about 30,000 staff, including workers who currently attend the office around twice a month and hybrid workers required to increase their attendance.
Unite says the policy will raise travel and childcare costs and disrupt arrangements for disabled workers and carers.
NatWest says spending more time together will help teams collaborate, share ideas, build relationships and learn.
- Who
- NatWest and about 30,000 of its employees; Unite is opposing the plan.
- What
- NatWest will require affected staff to attend the office at least two days a week, replacing some remote-first arrangements.
- When
- From February 2027, according to the Guardian; the BBC says from February.
- Where
- NatWest offices in the UK.
- Why
- NatWest says more time together helps teams collaborate, share ideas, build relationships and learn.
NatWest
Unite
Purpose of policy
NatWest
The bank says office time helps colleagues collaborate, share ideas, build relationships and learn.
Unite
Unite says the changes are out of touch with employees’ circumstances.
Costs and flexibility
NatWest
NatWest says it will support staff through the transition and make exceptions for colleagues requiring additional flexibility.
Unite
Unite says staff will face higher travel and childcare costs and that the policy will disrupt arrangements for disabled workers and carers.
NatWest’s plan was reported by the Guardian, BBC and This is Money.
NatWest is due to require nearly 40,000 UK staff to follow a two-days-a-week office schedule, according to the Guardian.
- Affected staff
- About 30,000
- Current remote-first attendance
- 13,497 workers attend around twice a month, according to Unite
- Current hybrid attendance
- 17,272 workers are required to increase their office attendance, according to Unite
- New office requirement
- At least two days a week
- Start date
- February 2027, according to the Guardian
4 sources
What people are saying
This is yet another kick in the teeth for workers who have suffered years of real-terms pay cuts and who are struggling to make ends meet
Thousands of workers face higher travel and childcare costs and disruption to caring responsibilities
Flexible working remains an important part of how we work but we’ve also learned more about the value that spending time together brings for our colleagues and customers – helping teams collaborate, share ideas, build relationships and learn from one another.