NatWest faces union backlash after asking staff to spend at least two days a week in office

Oct 20 (Reuters) British bank NatWest s move to ask staff to work from office at least two days a week drew sharp criticism on Tuesday from union Unite, which raised ​concerns about costs to employees and disruptions to family ‌arrangements. The decision highlights growing tensions over flexible working arrangements as employers push for greater office presence, while workers grapple with rising commuting costs and childcare needs. This is yet another kick in the teeth for workers who have suffered ‌years ​of real-terms pay cuts and who are ⁠struggling to make ends ⁠meet, Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement. The British lender had introduced a three-pronged approach to post-pandemic working habits in 2021, with 55% of staff on a hybrid model ​mixing home and office working, 32% in a remote-first model with a minimum of two days a month in the office and ⁠the remainder on an office-first model. However, several ⁠global companies, including AirBus, Stellanti