NatWest orders 13,000 staff back to office two days weekly
The banking group will end remote-first arrangements for thousands of employees from February 2027, drawing union criticism.
At a glance
- 13,000 NatWest staff will increase office attendance from two days monthly to two days weekly
- The new policy takes effect in February 2027 and applies to nearly 40,000 UK employees
- The bank is ending a remote-first arrangement for thousands of workers
- The staff union has expressed opposition to the policy change
NatWest has announced that 13,000 staff members will increase their in-office attendance from two days per month to two days per week starting in February 2027. The banking group, which operates under the Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest, and Coutts brands, will apply a mandatory two-day weekly office schedule across its nearly 40,000 UK workforce.
The decision has angered the staff union, which opposed the scrapping of the remote-first policy that currently applies to thousands of employees.
Why it matters
The move reflects broader corporate trends regarding workplace arrangements following pandemic-era remote work expansion, affecting a significant portion of a major UK financial institution's workforce.
Original reporting
- The Guardian — WorldNatWest orders 13,000 staff back to their desks two days a week
- The Guardian — BusinessNatWest orders 13,000 staff back to their desks two days a week
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.