NatWest Ends Remote-First Policy for 30,000 Staff, Drawing Sharp Rebuke From Unite
NatWest Ends Remote-First Policy for 30,000 Staff, Drawing Sharp Rebuke From Unite #
NatWest Group has informed more than 30,000 UK employees that they will be required to work from the office at least two days a week beginning February 2027, drawing a sharp response from trade union Unite, which accused the bank of contempt for its workforce.
The policy dismantles a three-tier flexible working model the bank introduced in 2021 following the pandemic. Under that framework, roughly 55% of staff were on hybrid arrangements, 32% operated on a remote-first basis attending the office only about twice a month, and the remainder worked fully on-site. The remote-first category is being abolished, with the approximately 13,500 employees in that group facing the largest increase in in-person attendance. A further 17,272 hybrid workers will also be required to increase their days on-site under the revised policy, according to Unite.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said the move was “yet another kick in the teeth” for workers who have already endured years of real-terms pay reductions. The union’s national officer for finance, Caren Evans, rejected any suggestion that working from home is a privilege, arguing that for many employees it is an essential arrangement that helps manage caring responsibilities and other personal circumstances. Unite also contended that the new requirements breach commitments made to staff as part of the 2025 pay deal.
The union warned that lower-paid grades would bear a disproportionate burden, as the added commuting costs and disruption to caring arrangements would fall hardest on those least able to absorb them. It also raised concerns about the impact on disabled colleagues.
NatWest pushed back, arguing that greater in-person collaboration benefits both staff and customers. A spokesperson said the bank believed the policy remained competitive within the finance industry and pledged to give workers adequate notice and practical support ahead of the February 2027 implementation date. Exceptions will be available for colleagues who require additional flexibility, the bank added.
The announcement puts NatWest, which operates under the Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, and Coutts brands, among a growing number of large UK lenders tightening attendance expectations. JPMorgan Chase, which employs around 23,000 people in the UK, has already required all staff to work full-time on-site, while several other major banks are expected to raise in-office requirements in the first half of 2027.
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