Barclays staff push back against new three-day office mandate

Barclays’ recent decision to tighten its remote-working rules has sparked a growing revolt among its UK staff. The bank now expects most employees to work from the office three days a week, with senior leaders required to be present four days. A petition organized by Unite, which covers roughly 80% of Barclays’ 45,000 UK workers, has gathered more than 1,000 signatures demanding that staff with commutes longer than 40 minutes be exempt and that a one-off payment be provided to offset additional travel costs.

The union reports that 94% of respondents in its latest survey want the changes postponed until a formal dialogue with the bank concludes. Barclays has said it recognises the need to balance flexibility with collaboration, noting that office-time requirements vary by business area. The dispute mirrors similar push-backs at other banks, such as JP Morgan and Hargreaves Lansdown, over post-pandemic return-to-office policies.