NAB’s Office Return Plan Faces Staff Backlash

National Australia Bank is ramping up its return-to-office push, requiring more days on-site from employees as part of a broader shift in work expectations. However the move is sparking significant unrest among staff and union representatives. The Finance Sector Union claims the policy erodes trust and threatens the flexibility that helped deliver a $3.5 billion half-year profit.

Right now, the bank is asking junior employees to work from the office three days a week, up from two, and team leaders to attend at least four days. Senior leaders already do five days. The change follows a similar effort in March, which was met with pushback. Now, some employees say it’s a step backward for work-life balance and express concerns over a lack of facilities, including reports of limited desk availability even as in-office expectations rise.

NAB downsized its Melbourne office footprint in 2020 and moved to a new headquarters meant for 5,600 workers. Despite that, the current office return plan has led to logistical frustrations. Staff reportedly need to pre-book desks due to high demand, and the Finance Sector Union says the timing of the new attendance rule, coming just after NAB’s strong half-year financial results is raising suspicions about company motives.

The broader picture shows Australia’s major banks still struggling to bring employees back on-site. Westpac is holding steady at two days in the office, while ANZ expects staff in half the workweek. In contrast, NAB’s new policy looks more aggressive and could influence future workplace dynamics, especially with its enterprise agreement already promising remote work options until at least 2027.

Source: The Australian, 7 News, Banking Day