Barclays mandates three office days a week for staff, four for managing directors

Barclays will require most employees to work from the office at least three days a week from October, while managing directors will be expected to attend four days a week, according to reporting by The Banker. The move marks a further tightening of the bank’s hybrid working policy and has prompted concerns among employees, with trade union Unite raising the issue directly with the lender.

The revised attendance requirements form part of a broader push by major financial institutions to increase in-person collaboration and leadership visibility following years of flexible working arrangements adopted during and after the pandemic.

New attendance rules take effect in October

According to The Banker, employees received country-specific communications outlining the updated requirements last month. Under the new framework:

• Managing directors will be required to work from the office four days per week
• All other employees will be expected to attend the office at least three days per week
• The policy will come into effect from October 2026
• The changes are expected to affect around half of Barclays’ 45,000 UK employees
• Operations and technology teams are among the functions likely to be impacted

A Barclays spokesperson told The Banker that employees who are not already attending the office three days a week will align with the bank’s wider approach.

The lender said the additional office day for senior leaders is intended to support collaboration, decision-making and leadership visibility across the organisation.

Employee concerns reach union representatives

The announcement has triggered feedback from employees, prompting intervention by Unite, which represents workers across multiple sectors in the UK.

A spokesperson for the union told The Banker that it had received "significant feedback" from Barclays employees regarding the planned increase in office attendance and had raised members' concerns directly with the bank.

The union said it continues to engage with Barclays on the issue and urged employers to assess the impact of workplace policy changes on employee wellbeing, productivity, work-life balance and job performance.

Unite also called for any changes to be evidence-based and implemented in a manner that supports both employees and business objectives.

Barclays joins wider banking sector shift

The policy change places Barclays alongside several major European banking groups that have recently strengthened return-to-office requirements.

According to The Banker, lenders including HSBC and Santander have also increased expectations around physical office attendance as banks seek to reinforce collaboration and operational effectiveness.

The debate over hybrid working remains active across the financial services sector. Earlier this year, Santander's plans to require stricter office attendance for TSB employees reportedly sparked concerns about potential legal challenges from staff representatives.

For banks, the shift reflects a growing emphasis on in-person engagement, particularly among leadership teams. For employees, the changes raise questions around flexibility and the future balance between remote and office-based work.

Bank says flexibility remains part of approach

Barclays said its attendance requirements vary by business area and are designed to reflect operational needs and the nature of specific roles.

The bank stated that it continues to recognise the value of balancing flexibility for employees with the benefits of working together in physical locations.

As October approaches, discussions between management, employees and union representatives are likely to remain in focus. The outcome could provide an indication of how large financial institutions navigate the evolving expectations around workplace flexibility while pursuing greater office attendance.