Santander has tightened its hybrid working policy, telling its UK office staff to work in its office the equivalent of three days a week.
In a recent update to 10,000 employees, the Spanish-owned bank announced that its current policy of having staff work at one of its locations two days a week would be replaced with a requirement of 12 days a month – effectively three days a week .
The change is in line with a broader trend among employers to increase on-site presence, as many companies look to shift the balance from hybrid working to more time in the office. The change follows PwC’s announcement that its 26,000 UK employees will now have to spend at least three days a week in the office or with clients, compared to the previous two to three days.
Santander’s new policy, which comes into effect at the end of this year, aims to bring staff back to their desks while offering more flexibility than a rigid three-day requirement. The bank emphasized that an office presence is crucial for the support and development of its employees, especially those early in their careers.
The directive affects office workers, including 4,500 employees at Santander’s new Milton Keynes branch and 1,000 employees in London. This does not apply to branch staff. Santander’s CEO in Britain, Mike Regnier, works from his home in Harrogate, Yorkshire, at least one day a week, although his contract lists the £150m Unity Place complex in Milton Keynes as his main place of work.
Santander’s move is part of a wider effort by employers to counter entrenched remote working habits that have emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, some banks, such as Lloyds, have opted for a more lenient approach, allowing office staff to work from home for up to three days a week, with the option of five days in the summer months.
Santander hopes that by increasing office presence it can promote collaboration and mentorship, which it sees as essential to employee development and overall workplace culture.