NAB boss Andrew Irvine stirs Finance Sector Union discontent over return-to-office push

NAB chief Andrew Irvine is the subject of an open letter from the Finance Sector Union which claims his return-to-office plan sends a message: you’re not trusted unless you’re visible.

NAB chief executive Andrew Irvine is the target of an open letter from the Finance Sector Union. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Bankers at National Australia Bank are up in arms over a plan to force more staff back to the office more often, culminating in an open letter to management that accused it of stoking a culture of distrust with its latest demand.

Melbourne-based NAB told staff last week it would require them to boost their office attendance by one day a week, resisting pushback from workers voiced in March over mandatory attendance.

Junior staff will need to increase their office attendance to a minimum of three days a week, up from two. Team leaders will be required to present to the office four days a week.

This is on top of senior NAB leadership, who are already required to meet their five days a week in the office since this cohort was upgraded to full-time attendance late last year.

The Finance Sector Union said NAB’s changes were “completely unnecessary”, warning in a note to members the demand risked attacking “current work flexibility” and questioning why the announcement arrived days after the banking giant ruled off a $3.5bn half year cash profit.

NAB will require staff back in the office a minimum of four days a week under its new return-to-office dictum. Picture: Britta Campion

FSU national president Wendy Streets said the attendance mandate from NAB was ill-timed given public rejection of Peter Dutton’s campaign to force public servants back to the office, which proved wildly unpopular with voters and in particular, Victorians.

“I don’t understand how they think this will work differently for them,” she said.

“People are not prepared to turn back the hands of time. They’ve found a new, fairer, more efficient way of working, they’re not going to be dragged back to the past.

“A lot of members are telling us they will walk and they will leave.”

This is also despite NAB staff bemoaning a desk shortage, meaning they are required to book ahead when they plan to front up at its offices.

NAB mothballed its mammoth Melbourne site at 800 Bourke Street in 2020, moving staff to its new headquarters at 395 Bourke Street, intended to house nearly 5,600 workers.

Ms Streets said NAB’s attempt to sell the move to the union had fallen flat, after the bank committed to work from home rights as recently as in its 2023 Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

FSU national president Wendy Streets. Picture: Kevin Farmer

NAB’s wage deal is up for renegotiation in 2027.

“We don’t believe there is any business case for staff to return to the office more,” she said.

NAB and its stablemates Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, and Westpac have all struggled to get staff back to the office despite repeated imprimaturs from leadership.

Westpac requires staff in the building at a minimum of two days a week, while rival ANZ has ordered workers to attend for half of their rostered days.

NAB informed staff about its plan last week in a message posted to internal noticeboards.

Ms Streets questioned what role NAB’s chief executive Andrew Irvine played in the directive.

The union official said NAB members had a “distinct lack of trust” as it relates to management.

“Who knows in two or four or six months’ time that they won’t move to four or five days a week in the office,” she said.

NAB people and culture group executive Sarah White said the bank was increasing attendance requirements “because it supports collaboration, teamwork and problem solving for customers”.

“We are taking an approach that ensures flexibility and supports all colleagues to respond to personal-life circumstances,” she said.

A series of meetings held on Monday by the FSU discussed the issue and agreed upon an open letter directed at Mr Irvine.

It said: “any move to scale back flexible working in 2025 is regressive and unnecessary”, and

“imposing rigid office mandates will damage the very culture NAB claims to value”.

The letter concludes: “It sends a message: no matter how committed or productive you are, you’re not trusted unless you’re visible”.

NAB is now surveying staff on the proposal.

An early version of the survey did not include a check box for staff who wanted to note they were happy with their current arrangement.

Originally published as NAB boss Andrew Irvine stirs Finance Sector Union discontent over return-to-office push