Barclays is changing its hybrid working rules so employees previously expected in the office two days a week must attend at least three days from next month, prompting thousands of staff to press the bank for concessions.
Unite, which represents about 36,000 Barclays employees, has launched an open letter and called for the company to reverse the change. The union is demanding a package of protections and payments to offset higher travel and childcare costs, and says the number of staff signing the letter "continues to rise". Unite national officer Rick Coyle accused the bank of "trying to fix a problem that doesn't exist".
The list of demands supplied to the bank covers targeted exemptions and financial support. They include carve-outs for commutes longer than 40 minutes or 35 miles, relief during Christmas, summer and school holidays, a cap of one office day for carers, and exploration of wrap-around childcare, childcare vouchers and onsite creches. The union is also insisting on a one-off payment to cover immediate cost increases for affected workers.
Barclays says many colleagues already work in the office for three or more days and that time-in-office expectations differ by business area to reflect the nature of the work. The bank told staff in a July memo that senior leaders should be in the office at least four days per week. It has declined to disclose how many employees will be affected, although the BBC understands rules vary by team, with investment bankers typically expected in every weekday.
The move sits within a wider corporate shift after the pandemic, as several firms have tightened attendance rules. The story notes firms including Amazon, Boots and JP Morgan have required some head office staff to be in daily, and other businesses have signalled similar rollbacks of remote-first policies, with Revolut saying it would change its approach for new hires in 2027. Executives in other sectors have also publicly questioned remote work’s fit for junior staff.
Staff and the union say current hybrid arrangements have delivered strong financial and customer outcomes, and they want Barclays to reconsider before the new requirement takes effect next month. The dispute now sets up a standoff between a major UK bank seeking more office presence and a large union pressing for compensation and exemptions for workers who will face higher costs.
