Santander has implemented a new policy affecting 10,000 of its UK office-based employees, altering the previous arrangement that allowed staff to work two days a week at the office. The updated policy now mandates a requirement of 12 days a month, effectively translating to three days a week spent working at one of the bank's sites in the UK.
This move by Santander is reflective of a larger movement among employers to encourage more in-office presence following the remote working trends that became prevalent during the Covid-19 pandemic. The shift towards more time in the office is also in line with PwC's recent announcement that its UK employees will now have to spend a minimum of three days a week in the office or at client locations, as opposed to the previous two to three days allowance.
Santander's decision is not a rigid return-to-office mandate but rather a flexible approach to balancing in-office work with remote working. The bank aims to create a supportive environment for its employees, especially those early in their careers, to foster professional development and collaboration. This new policy applies to office-based employees, excluding branch staff, and is expected to come into effect by the end of the year.