Barclays has delayed the introduction of a three-day-a-week office attendance requirement for UK staff until the start of 2027 after thousands of employees backed opposition to the changes.

The policy was due to take effect on 5 October, replacing the bank’s existing requirement for most staff to work from the office two days a week. Under the revised arrangements, more senior employees including managing directors would be expected to attend for at least four days a week.

The Financial Times reported that Barclays has introduced a transition period during which employees will not be required to meet the new arrangements. Staff seeking to delay implementation until 2027 must obtain approval from their line manager, with the bank saying it was extending the period to ensure employees received appropriate support.

Barclays said it was reviewing its flexible working policy while continuing discussions with employees over the changes. A Barclays spokesperson said: “We have continued to listen to colleague feedback to ensure colleagues have the right support while enabling us to deliver the benefits of working together in person.”

Unite, which represents about 80 per cent of Barclays’ 45,000 UK employees, coordinated an open letter opposing the changes that was signed by thousands of staff. The union had called for compensation for additional commuting costs and exemptions for employees with commutes longer than 40 minutes, alongside other concessions.

Unite said it recognised that working in person could support collaboration, team development and relationship building, but opposed what it described as a blanket increase in mandatory office attendance. The union said it would continue engaging with Barclays over its proposals for employees’ working arrangements.

The dispute comes as other UK banks face resistance to tighter office attendance requirements. TSB employees have threatened legal action over plans by new owner Santander to introduce a mandatory three-day office policy from next year, following Santander’s £2.9 billion acquisition of the bank in April.

Barclays’ decision follows a broader push by banks to increase office attendance following the widespread adoption of remote and hybrid working during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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