Nationwide scraps its 'work from anywhere' policy and orders staff back to the office (for two days a week)

Building society Nationwide has told all 13,000 of its non-branch staff they will no longer be able to work from home full-time.

Workers had been told during the coronavirus pandemic they would not be forced to come back in.

The then Nationwide chief executive Joe Garner said he was putting employees in control of where they did their jobs.

But on Tuesday, the possibility of five days of working in slippers, avoiding the unpleasant commute and an extra few minutes in bed came to a dramatic end.

Mr Garner's successor, Debbie Crosbie - who was appointed at the end of 2021 - dramatically axed the policy.

Now staff will have to come into the office at least two days a week or be at risk of breaching their contract.

It means most staff will have to be in an office for at least 40% of their contract – equivalent to two days a week for those full-time.

The new ruling will come into place on January 1 at the start of next year.

However there will be a 'grace' period until April 1 for those who thought they would never have to work in an office again.

The policy change has been agreed with Nationwide's union, which represents its employees.

It its staff magazine before Christmas the news was revealed to everyone. 

The article said: 'Requirement to work from Nationwide premises has always been a contractual obligation.

'The Society will be monitoring data on access to offices to understand site utilisation and identify non-compliance with the minimum requirement.

'However, the society has given us an assurance that such data will only be used to inform discussions, and not as an absolute measure of compliance.'

In October Dominic West sent up a sleazy bank boss in a new TV advert for Nationwide.

The commercial promoted Nationwide's policy of keeping its branches open.

It says it now has the largest network of any High Street lender with 605 branches, having overtaken Lloyds with 598.

Last month Ms Crosbie dampened speculation she could become chief executive of troubled Natwest.

She had been seen by some as a frontrunner to replace Alison Rose at the taxpayer-backed bank.

Rose was forced to resign in July this year amid a row over the closure of Nigel Farage's account at Coutts, which is part of Natwest. She has since been stripped of £7.6million shares and bonuses.

Natwest is still searching for a new chief executive – with Ms Crosbie's name among those rumoured to be in the frame.

But announcing Nationwide's half-year results In November, she distanced herself from the job.

She insisted: 'I've only been here for 18 months. I really wanted to join Nationwide because I love its business model. I'm really happy here.'

Today Nationwide said employees were already expected to work in the office, but the new policy was a clarification it should be for a minimum of two days.

A spokesperson said: 'Hybrid working is an important part of Nationwide's flexible arrangements.

'Colleagues are already expected to work in an office for at least one or two days per week, depending on their role.

'This change simply moves the minimum to two days for everyone.'