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 strict two days per week office schedule from February 2027, abolishing a remote-first policy for thousands of employees.

Unite said it was a “kick in the teeth” for the 13,000 employees who currently attend the office only two days per month, and accounted for some of NatWest’s lowest-paid workers, including staff involved in technology, security, data analytics, as well as human resources.

The union added that the change would pile additional financial pressure on staff already struggling with rising living costs, while undermining flexible arrangements for those with caring responsibilities or disabilities. Many had also structured their lives around flexible working agreements that were expanded during the Covid pandemic, it said.

“This is yet another kick in the teeth for workers who have suffered years of real-terms pay cuts and who are struggling to make ends meet,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said.

“NatWest’s decision is completely out of touch with the realities facing its workforce,” she added, noting that thousands of staff would face higher travel and childcare costs as a result.

“For NatWest to impose these changes while reneging on existing agreements shows complete contempt for its workforce. NatWest must ditch these proposals and engage properly with its workers.”

NatWest said its new policy was meant to “help teams collaborate,” echoing arguments made by other banks ranging from JP Morgan to Revolut, which have clamped down on remote working, saying it harms the training of younger staff.

NatWest’s row with Unite comes just weeks after Barclays was forced to water down its return-to-office plans after a staff backlash , backed by Unite.

Barclays had ordered staff to come in at least three days per week from early October, up from two days per week. However, the bank eventually softened its stance and allowed some staff to delay the requirement until next year.

Some staff at NatWest, including traders, branch workers and relationship managers, are already required to be in the office four days per week. Others, including its communications, administrative and analytics staff, work a hybrid schedule where they are in six times per month.

A NatWest spokesperson 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.”

The bank added: “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.”