Santander updates hybrid work policy, pushing for more office presence.
- Employees required to work 12 days a month in-office, up from 8.
- Change reflects a trend of increasing on-site attendance post-Covid.
- New policy excludes branch staff, focusing on office-based roles.
- Move aims to enhance collaboration and employee development.
In a recent announcement, Santander informed its 10,000 employees in the UK about a significant change to its hybrid working policy, transitioning from the previous model that allowed two days a week at the office to a new requirement of 12 days a month. This effectively translates to three days a week in the office.
This shift aligns with a broader trend among companies to bring more staff back to the physical workplace as remote working becomes deeply rooted post-pandemic. The change at Santander echoes similar decisions by major firms such as PwC, which recently mandated a minimum of three days a week in the office or at client sites for its 26,000 UK employees.
The new policy, set to take effect by the end of the year, underscores Santander’s commitment to supporting and developing its workforce, particularly those early in their careers, by facilitating in-person collaboration and mentorship. The directive specifically applies to office-based employees, including 4,500 staff at Santander’s new Milton Keynes hub and 1,000 employees in London, while explicitly excluding branch employees.
Despite the push for increased in-office attendance, Santander emphasizes flexibility, allowing arrangements that do not strictly impose a rigid three-day per week rule. This approach aims to foster a more dynamic work environment conducive to both personal and professional growth.
The bank’s chief executive in the UK, Mike Regnier, exemplifies this balance by working from home in Harrogate, Yorkshire, at least one day a week, although Unity Place in Milton Keynes is his primary office. Santander sees this model as essential in counteracting the entrenched remote working habits that the pandemic has intensified.
While Santander moves towards increased physical presence, other banks, such as Lloyds, maintain a more lenient stance, permitting up to three days of remote work per week, with extended flexibility during summer. Santander hopes to encourage a culture of direct engagement that benefits the workforce’s development and the organization as a whole.
Santander’s policy change signifies a shift towards balancing remote work flexibility with the need for in-office collaboration.
