NatWest has faced sharp criticism from the Unite union after asking staff to work from the office at least two days a week. Unite raised concerns on Tuesday about the costs for employees and the disruption to family arrangements.
The move highlights wider tension over flexible working, as employers push for more office presence while workers deal with rising commuting costs and childcare needs.
Union says the move breaches the 2025 pay deal
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement that the decision was “yet another kick in the teeth” for workers who have endured years of real-terms pay cuts. Unite argued that the policy violated the terms of NatWest’s 2025 pay deal, which included a jointly negotiated blueprint for consulting staff and the union on future changes to office attendance.
Caren Evans, Unite National Officer for Finance, said that for many workers homeworking is not a perk. She added that it allows people to balance work with caring responsibilities or manage a health condition.
Bank points to the value of spending time together
A NatWest Group spokesperson said in an emailed statement that flexible working remains important, but the bank had learned more about the value of time spent together for colleagues and customers. The bank said it would give staff time to plan ahead and support them through the transition.
NatWest introduced a three-pronged approach to post-pandemic working in 2021. At that time, 55% of staff worked on a hybrid model, 32% were on a remote-first model with a minimum of two days a month in the office, and the rest were office-first.
Other employers have scaled back remote work
Several global companies, including AirBus, Stellantis, Amazon and Microsoft, have reversed COVID-era remote working policies in an effort to boost productivity.
