‘Emphasis on office attendance’: NAB changes WFH policy

NAB is changing its work from home policy, with employees soon to be required in the office more often.

National Australia Bank is increasing the number of days staff are expected in the office.

Most employees will need to increase from two to three days a week, while team leaders are required to make an appearance in person four days a week instead of three.

The most senior leaders at NAB are already required in the office five days a week.

It is a move the Finance Sector Union has slammed as “completely unnecessary”.

In an internal memo announcing the new rules last week, seen by the Australian Financial Review, the bank’s group executive of people and culture Sarah White said the company was building towards an “office-based working model,” according to the publication.

The email stated NAB’s current ‘ways of working are evolving’ as the bank aims to bolster the number of hours staff work in the office since Covid-19 lockdowns.

Ms White told news.com.au in a statement the changes would happen “later in the year” and NAB would consult with employees before implementing the push for more office time.

NAB wants more people back in the office more often. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

“We continue to evolve our ways of working to foster an engaging work environment that is fair and flexible for colleagues and good for customers,” Ms White said.

“NAB is implementing an increased emphasis on office attendance because it supports collaboration, teamwork and problem solving for customers.”

Ms White claimed the bank was “taking an approach that ensures flexibility and supports all colleagues to respond to personal-life circumstances”.

“NAB is commencing a period of consultation with colleagues prior to the implementation, and we are committed to listening to, and considering, colleague feedback regarding our ways of working before any changes come into effect,” she said.

The Finance Sector Union (FSU) has labelled the change to working from home as “completely unnecessary,” highlighting that it came only a week after the bank revealed a $3.5 billion half year cash profit.

“These profits prove we can (and do) deliver results no matter where we work,” the union argued.

The FSU has written an open letter to NAB CEO Andrew Irvine strongly opposing the increase in mandatory office attendance.

The letter said any move to scale back flexible working in 2025 was “regressive”. It highlighted concerns for workers’ mental health and morale, those employees with family and caring responsibilities, and the financial pressure some may face with the added cost of commuting.

FSU national president Wendy Streets told The Australian “a lot of members” said they would quit.

ANZ and Commonwealth Bank require staff to spend half their work time in the office, while Westpac’s policy is at least two to three days a week in the office.

NAB employees will be spending less time working from home later this year. Picture: istock

Earlier this year, news.com.au launched The Great Aussie Debate, a wide-ranging, 50 question survey that has uncovered what Australians really think about all the hot topics of 2025.

Over two weeks, more than 54,000 Australians took part in the survey, revealing their thoughts on everything from the cost of living and homeownership, to electric vehicles and going shoeless in supermarkets.

From the survey, it was clear the majority of Aussies prefer a hybrid approach to work, where possible, with 61.59 per cent favouring between 1-4 days at home.

The most popular response was 1-2 days at home at week, with a further 21.11 per cent preferring 3-4 days working remotely.

Of the respondents, 28.77 per cent believe full time office work is best.

However, there was an interesting detail in the statistics.

The age group most likely to choose this option have hit retirement age. More than half (51.18 per cent) of the 70+ group want people in the office five days a week.

During the Liberal Party’s failed federal election campaign, Peter Dutton even changed his mind on introducing a mandate for a minimum number of office days for public servants following backlash.

Originally published as ‘Emphasis on office attendance’: NAB changes WFH policy