Santander is shifting its hybrid working policy to require office presence for employees.
- The change will see UK employees spending the equivalent of three days a week at the office.
- This shift aligns with broader industry trends towards increased on-site work.
- Santander aims to enhance employee development and workplace culture through this policy.
- The new policy will be effective by the end of the year, impacting office-based staff.
In a significant shift affecting 10,000 employees, Santander has announced the tightening of its hybrid working policy. The Spanish-owned bank now requires UK office-based staff to work in-office for 12 days each month, effectively three days a week. This move replaces the previous allowance for two days of office-based work per week, aligning with a broader industry trend towards increasing physical presence in the workplace.
PwC recently mandated its 26,000 UK employees to spend at least three days weekly either in the office or at client sites, illustrating a pattern among corporations to recalibrate work-from-home balances established during the pandemic. Santander’s new directive, effective by the end of 2024, strives to balance flexibility with the necessity of in-office presence for employee support and development, particularly for those early in their careers.
The policy applies explicitly to office-based roles, influencing 4,500 employees at Santander’s Milton Keynes hub and 1,000 in London, but excludes branch staff. Despite this shift, Santander’s Chief Executive in the UK, Mike Regnier, maintains a flexible approach, often working from home in Harrogate, Yorkshire, though his primary office is the Unity Place complex in Milton Keynes.
The decision is part of a collective move by employers to address entrenched work-from-home habits formed during the Covid-19 crisis. While Santander increases in-office requirements, some banks like Lloyds are adopting more lenient policies, allowing up to three work-from-home days weekly, with five days permitted during summer. Santander believes that increased physical attendance will foster collaboration and mentorship, which are deemed crucial for both individual and organisational growth.
Overall, Santander’s revised hybrid working strategy marks a significant development in adapting to post-pandemic workplace norms.
