Unite attacks NatWest plan to cut remote working rights for 30,000 staff

Bank defends two-day office requirement as union warns of higher costs for lower-paid workers

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Updated20 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

The Unite union has attacked NatWest over plans to cut home working rights for 30,000 employees, warning that thousands of lower-paid staff will face higher travel and childcare costs. From February the bank will require workers to spend at least two days a week in the office, a policy it insists remains competitive with the rest of the finance industry.

Under the changes, NatWest is abolishing its "remote first" employment category, which currently allows 13,497 workers to attend the office around twice a month, and is requiring 17,272 hybrid workers to increase their office attendance, according to Unite. The union says many of the affected workers are in lower-paid grades and argues the new requirements will add to cost-of-living pressures while disrupting the arrangements of disabled workers and carers.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called the move a "kick in the teeth" for 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." She called on the bank 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." He said colleagues would be expected to spend at least two days a week in the office depending on the needs of their role and business area, noting that exceptions will be made for those who require additional flexibility and that the bank will support staff through the transition.

The dispute is the latest sign of employers gradually drawing staff back to the office since remote working became the norm for some office workers during the Covid pandemic. Amazon required staff to return five days a week in January last year, and Boots and JP Morgan have brought in policies requiring head office staff to be in every day. Last month Barclays faced a backlash from staff over plans to require three days a week in the office, and responded with a longer transition period following staff and union complaints.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The decision affects 30,000 staff at one of Britain's biggest banks and marks another step away from pandemic-era remote working in UK finance.
The union argues the change falls hardest on lower-paid workers, carers and disabled staff, at a time when travel and childcare costs are a live political issue.
How this dispute is resolved could shape how other large employers handle their own return-to-office policies.

Background

Working from home became the norm for many office workers during the Covid pandemic, and employers have been gradually pulling staff back since. NatWest until now operated a "remote first" category for around 13,500 staff, who were expected at the office roughly twice a month, alongside a larger group of hybrid workers.

Other firms have moved further and faster: Amazon required five days a week in the office from January last year, while Boots and JP Morgan expect head office staff in every day. But last month Barclays softened its three-day-a-week plan after a staff and union backlash, agreeing a longer transition period, which suggests employee resistance can still change outcomes.

Key Perspectives

NatWest: Flexible working remains important, but time together in the office helps teams collaborate, share ideas, build relationships and learn from one another. The bank says its two-day minimum is competitive with the finance industry, exceptions will be made where flexibility is needed, and staff will be given time to plan and be supported through the change.

Unite: The move is a "kick in the teeth" that reneges on existing agreements, increases travel and childcare costs for thousands of workers, and disrupts disabled staff and carers. It wants the proposals ditched and proper engagement with workers before any change.

Critics and skeptics: Within the wider industry, some employers consider even two days a generous baseline and have moved to five-day requirements. But the Barclays experience shows that imposing stricter attendance rules can provoke a backlash that forces companies to retreat.

What to Watch

Whether NatWest responds to union pressure by extending its transition period or adjusting the February start date, as Barclays did.
Whether Unite escalates beyond public criticism, for example by balloting members on industrial action.
How other banks and large employers interpret the outcome of this dispute when setting their own office attendance policies.

Sources

NatWest faces union backlash after asking staff to spend at least two days a week in office - Reuters · "site:reuters.com/business when:1d" - Google News
Union attacks NatWest plans to reduce working from home · BBC News

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedNatWest plans to reduce home-working rights for 30,000 employees.BBC News: “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.”
Partly supportedThe union warns that lower-paid workers will face higher travel and childcare costs.BBC News: “many of the affected workers are lower-paid grades, and the new requirements will increase cost-of-living pressures”
SupportedNatWest will require workers to attend the office at least two days a week from February.BBC News: “workers will be required to attend the office at least two days a week, from February.”
SupportedNatWest says its two-day requirement remains competitive with the rest of the finance industry.BBC News: “The bank says this is still very competitive with the rest of the finance industry”
SupportedThe remote-first category allows 13,497 workers to attend the office around twice a month.BBC News: “its "remote first" employment category, which allows 13,497 workers to attend the office around twice a month”
SupportedUnite says NatWest is requiring 17,272 hybrid workers to increase their office attendance.BBC News: “and requiring 17,272 hybrid workers to increase their office attendance.”
SupportedSharon Graham called the move a “kick in the teeth” for workers.BBC News: “Unite secretary-general Sharon Graham called NatWest's move a "kick in the teeth" for its workers.”
SupportedGraham said thousands face higher travel and childcare costs and disruption to caring responsibilities.BBC News: “"Thousands of workers face higher travel and childcare costs and disruption to caring responsibilities," she said”
SupportedThe NatWest spokesman said colleagues would be expected to spend at least two days a week in the office, depending on role and business area.BBC News: “with colleagues expected to spend at least two days a week in the office, depending on the needs of their role and business area.”
SupportedNatWest says exceptions will be made for colleagues needing additional flexibility and that it will support staff through the transition.BBC News: “exceptions will be made for colleagues who require additional flexibility.”