What NatWest’s Office-Attendance Change Means for Staff

From February 2027, NatWest plans to end its remote-first category and require staff to attend an office at least twice a week, with exceptions for some colleagues.

Home & LifeOctober 20, 20264 min readHow Sureno writes this

The short version

NatWest says staff will have to work in an office at least two days a week from February 2027, with exceptions for colleagues who need additional flexibility. ¹²
The change ends the remote-first category used by about 13,000 employees, who currently attend an office around twice a month, according to the reports. ¹²
Another 17,272 employees classed as hybrid workers are also expected to increase their office attendance, according to Unite. ¹
Unite opposes the change, citing added travel and childcare costs and concerns for workers with caring responsibilities or disabilities. ¹²

What is changing at NatWest?

NatWest plans to require its UK staff to work from an office at least two days a week from February 2027. The policy would replace a remote-first arrangement for thousands of employees. NatWest says colleagues who need additional flexibility will be able to have exceptions. ¹²

The reports describe two groups affected in different ways. About 13,000 people currently attend an office around twice a month under the remote-first category. Unite says a further 17,272 hybrid workers will have to increase their attendance. ¹²

The BBC reports that NatWest says the new approach remains competitive with the rest of the finance industry. That is the bank’s position; the available reporting does not provide a detailed comparison of policies at other firms. ¹

Who is affected by the new office rules?

The change applies across NatWest’s UK workforce, described by the Guardian as nearly 40,000 employees. That means the new minimum is wider than the group currently attending only twice a month. ²

The Guardian reports that some of the remote-first employees are among NatWest’s lower-paid workers, including people working in technology, security, data analytics and human resources. These are examples of roles named in the report, not a complete list of everyone affected. ²

The sources do not give a full account of how the minimum will work for each job, location or individual arrangement. NatWest has said exceptions will be made for colleagues who need extra flexibility, but the reports do not explain the application process or who will qualify. ¹

Why are staff and Unite objecting?

Unite says more office days could increase employees’ travel and childcare costs. It also argues that the change could make existing arrangements harder for workers with caring responsibilities or disabilities. These are concerns raised by the union, rather than a published assessment of the effect on every employee. ¹²

The union also says some workers have organised their lives around flexible arrangements that expanded during the Covid pandemic. It objects to ending remote-first status and has criticised the policy publicly. ²

For an affected employee, the practical impact will depend on their current pattern, where their workplace is and whether they can receive an exception. The available reports do not state what support, if any, NatWest will provide for extra commuting costs or childcare.

What does this change say about hybrid work?

Hybrid work means splitting work between an office and another location, often home. NatWest’s plan sets a minimum office attendance level rather than requiring everyone to be in every day. It is therefore a shift away from remote-first working, not a full-time office return. ¹²

The reports place the announcement within a wider pattern of employers changing office rules. The BBC notes that some firms have required more office attendance, while Barclays faced staff and union criticism over a proposed three-day rule and introduced a longer transition period. ¹

That context helps explain why the announcement matters beyond NatWest: it is part of an ongoing debate about how much choice workers and employers should have over where work is done. The sources do not establish one best arrangement or compare the effects of different policies on productivity or staff wellbeing.

What should affected employees find out next?

The key practical details are not fully covered in the reports. Employees may want to check the policy information provided by NatWest and ask how the two-day minimum applies to their role, when any transition begins, and how to request an exception. This is general information, not advice about an individual employment situation.

The reports say the change is due to start in February 2027, but do not give a specific day in February. They also do not say how the bank will handle every existing flexible-work arrangement. ¹²

The policy could still prompt further discussion between NatWest and Unite. The sources provided do not report a final agreement, a change to the announced plan, or the outcome of any discussions.

What we don't know yet

The reports do not give the exact February 2027 start date.
NatWest has not provided, in the available reports, full details of how employees can request an exception.
The sources do not explain how the policy will apply to every job, workplace or existing flexible arrangement.
The reported material does not show whether NatWest and Unite will reach an agreement or whether the plan will change.

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Questions people ask

How many days a week will NatWest staff have to be in the office?

NatWest plans to require UK staff to attend an office at least two days a week from February 2027. It says exceptions will be made for colleagues who need additional flexibility. ¹²

When does NatWest’s new office policy start?

The reported start is February 2027. The reports do not specify the exact date in that month. ¹²

How many NatWest staff currently go in only twice a month?

The Guardian reports that about 13,000 employees attend an office around twice a month under the remote-first category. The BBC gives a more exact figure of 13,497, citing Unite. ¹²

Why is Unite against NatWest’s office attendance change?

Unite says the change could add travel and childcare costs and make flexible arrangements harder for people with caring responsibilities or disabilities. Those are the union’s concerns as reported by the BBC and the Guardian. ¹²

Will NatWest allow exceptions to the two-day office rule?

NatWest says exceptions will be made for colleagues who need additional flexibility. The reports do not explain how employees can apply or which circumstances will qualify. ¹

Sources

Union attacks NatWest plans to get workers back to the office — BBC News
NatWest cracks down on 13,000 staff attending office two days a month — the Guardian, 2026-10-20

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