NatWest orders 13,000 staff back to their desks two days a week
Union furious as bank scraps remote-first policy for thousands of employees from February 2027 NatWest has ordered 13,000 staff to increase their in-office days from two days per month to two days per week, angering its staff union. The banking group, which serves customers under the Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, and Coutts brands, will require all of its nearly 40,000 UK staff to follow a…
NatWest has informed 13,000 of its UK employees that they must return to the office two days per week, starting in February 2027, after scrapping their remote-first policy. This decision has upset the bank's staff union, Unite, who called it "a kick in the teeth" for the staff who currently work only twice a month. The union argues that this move will put extra financial strain on its lowest-paid workers, many of whom are involved in technology, security, data analytics, and human resources.
Unite's general secretary, Sharon Graham, stated that the decision shows complete disregard for the workforce's realities, as it will increase travel and childcare costs for many. NatWest claims the new policy will foster better collaboration among teams, echoing similar arguments from other banks, such as JP Morgan and Revolut, who have also limited remote work.
Some NatWest employees are already required to be in the office four days per week, while others work a hybrid schedule. NatWest maintains that flexible working is still crucial, but acknowledges the benefits of in-person collaboration and support for staff during the transition.
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