\n<\/p>\n
British bank NatWest\u2019s move to ask staff to work from office at least two days a week drew sharp criticism on Tuesday from union \u200bUnite, which raised concerns about costs to employees and disruptions \u200cto family arrangements.<\/strong><\/p>\n The decision highlights growing tensions over flexible working arrangements as employers push for greater office presence, while workers grapple with rising commuting costs and childcare needs.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is yet \u200banother kick in the teeth for workers who have suffered years \u200bof real-terms pay cuts and who are struggling to make \u2060ends meet,\u201d Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement.<\/span><\/p>\n The British lender \u200bhad introduced a three-pronged approach to post-pandemic working habits in 2021, with 55% of \u200bstaff on a hybrid model mixing home and office working, 32% in a \u201cremote-first\u201d model with a minimum of two days a month in the office and the remainder on \u200ban \u201coffice-first\u201d model.<\/span><\/p>\n However, several global companies, including AirBus, Stellantis and big tech firms such \u200bas Amazon and Microsoft, have reversed COVID-era remote working policies in a bid to increase \u200cproductivity.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFlexible \u2060working remains an important part of how we work but we\u2019ve also learned more about the value that spending time together brings for our colleagues and customers,\u201d a NatWest Group spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.<\/span><\/p>\n The \u200bbank would give staff \u200btime to plan \u2060ahead and support them through the transition, it added.<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Unite said the new policy violated NatWest\u2019s 2025 pay deal \u200bterms, which included a jointly negotiated blueprint setting out how \u200bworkers and \u2060their union would be consulted on future changes to office attendance.<\/span><\/p>\n