Santander is mandating office attendance for three days a week, revising its hybrid working policy.
- The change reflects a trend among businesses to increase in-office presence post-pandemic.
- Starting at the year’s end, 10,000 employees will need to adjust to this new requirement.
- The policy aims to foster collaboration, mentorship, and employee development.
- Comparatively, rival banks like Lloyds offer more flexible remote working options.
Santander is set to enforce a revised hybrid working policy, urging employees to be present in the office for three days each week. This move departs from the previous arrangement, which allowed staff to work remotely up to three days. Aligning with broader corporate trends, the bank seeks to emphasize in-office presence.
This amendment, affecting 10,000 Santander employees, will be implemented at the end of the current year. The policy is part of a larger corporate movement across industries attempting to recalibrate the balance between remote and office work following the hybrid model’s popularity during the pandemic.
The directive specifically targets office-based staff, impacting 4,500 employees at the Milton Keynes hub and 1,000 in London. However, branch operations remain exempt from this policy update. The bank underscores that in-office work is vital for fostering professional relationships and aiding those new to their careers.
Interesting to note is that Santander’s UK chief executive, Mike Regnier, also adheres to hybrid working, operating from his primary office in Milton Keynes but working remotely at least one day a week from his home in Yorkshire.
The bank’s decision contrasts with some of its competitors, such as Lloyds, which offer a more lenient remote work policy. Lloyds’ approach permits employees to work from home up to three days a week, extending to five during summer months.
The revised policy is geared towards enhancing collaboration and mentorship—elements considered crucial by Santander for cultivating a supportive and dynamic workplace culture.
Santander’s new in-office policy signifies a strategic move to enhance employee interaction and development.
