Senior bankers at Lloyds Banking Group could see their bonuses reduced if they fail to meet requirements for office attendance of at least two days per week.

The banking group, which owns Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands, has confirmed it is incorporating office attendance into performance-related bonus targets for its most senior staff. The policy affects hybrid workers who were instructed in 2023 to be present in the office for at least 40 per cent of their working hours.

Ged Nichols, general secretary of the Accord union representing Lloyds staff, urged management to consider individual circumstances when determining bonus payments. "The inclusion of a metric on complying with the requirement for some staff to attend offices for 40 per cent of their working time should not create problems if it is applied fairly, and is sensitive to individuals' circumstances," he said.

The bonus decisions will be announced next month following the presentation of annual results by chief executive Charlie Nunn on 20 February.

This move follows a broader trend of major employers scaling back remote working policies that were implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic. Companies including JP Morgan and Amazon have implemented strict five-day office attendance requirements, while Asda has mandated three days per week for thousands of workers at its Leeds and Leicester locations.

However, some workplace flexibility measures have faced resistance. At Starling Bank, several employees resigned following demands for increased office attendance, while nearly 6,000 people have signed a petition opposing WPP's new four-day office attendance policy.

A Lloyds spokesperson defended the policy, stating the bank was "proud to offer an industry-leading approach to flexible working which delivers many benefits for our colleagues while ensuring that we are well-placed to deliver on our ambitious strategy."

The banking group has also introduced a new bonus scheme making 33,000 of its lowest-paid staff eligible for enhanced performance-based payments. Up to 1,000 workers, including junior employees and branch staff, could receive larger bonuses if they are deemed to have "exceeded expectations" or had a "transformative impact" on the business.

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