Union attacks NatWest plans to get workers back to the office

The Unite union has hit out at a plan by NatWest to reduce the rights of 30,000 of its employees to work from home.

NatWest says it is moving to a hybrid approach where workers will be required to attend the office at least two days a week, from February.

The bank says this is still very competitive with the rest of the finance industry, and exceptions will be made for colleagues who require additional flexibility.

But Unite said NatWest's decision was "out of touch with the realities facing its workforce", with many facing higher travel and childcare costs.

Firms have been gradually drawing people back into the office since working from home became the norm for some office workers during the Covid pandemic.

In January last year, Amazon required staff to return to the office five days a week after they had been working two days at home.

Other firms such as Boots and JP Morgan have brought in policies requiring head office staff to be in every day.

But Barclays faced a backlash from staff last month over plans to require workers to go to the office three days a week. It brought in a longer transition period in response to staff and union complaints.

Unite said NatWest was abolishing its "remote first" employment category, which allows 13,497 workers to attend the office around twice a month, and requiring 17,272 hybrid workers to increase their office attendance.

The union says that many of the affected workers are lower-paid grades, and the new requirements will increase cost-of-living pressures, while disrupting the arrangements of disabled workers and carers.

In a statement, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called NatWest's move a "kick in the teeth" for its workers.

"Thousands of workers face higher travel and childcare costs and disruption to caring responsibilities," she said

"For NatWest to impose these changes while reneging on existing agreements shows complete contempt for its workforce."

Graham called on NatWest to "ditch these proposals and engage properly with its workers".

A NatWest spokesman said: "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.

"That's why we're introducing a more consistent approach across the bank, with colleagues expected to spend at least two days a week in the office, depending on the needs of their role and business area.

"We recognise this will be a change for some colleagues and we're giving them time to plan ahead and will support them through the transition."