Up to 500 workers at Nationwide are at risk of redundancy as part of overhaul of its head office operations
- Swindon-based Nationwide said it ultimately expects 200 workers to leave
- This comes after building society said it was rescinding ‘work anywhere policy’
Nationwide had said that 500 workers are at risk of redundancy as part of an overhaul of head office operations at the building society.
The firm, which is led by Debbie Crosbie, said the redundancy consultation is part of a ‘streamlining’ to improve efficiency and help it direct investment to other parts of the business.
Swindon-based Nationwide said it ultimately expects 200 workers to leave, following a process which will seek to find workers new roles.
The company said ‘customer-facing colleagues’ will not be affected by the shake-up, as it reiterates its commitment to running branches across the country.
It is understood the building society will not move roles offshore as part of the changes to head office.
A spokesman for Nationwide said: ‘Our strategy is to give customers greater value, better products and a distinctive customer experience.
Swindon-based Nationwide said it ultimately expects 200 workers to leave, following a process which will seek to find workers new roles (stock image)
Debbie Crosbie (pictured), said the redundancy consultation is part of a ‘streamlining’ to improve efficiency and help it direct investment to other parts of the business
‘To do this our systems and operations must be best-in-class and we need to be more agile and efficient.
‘We are streamlining some of our head office teams and expect around 200 people to leave the society.
‘This will enable us to increase investment in the value and service we provide our customers.
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‘We have worked hard to keep the number of affected colleagues to a minimum and are ensuring we provide the right support for those impacted.’
The move also comes a day after the building society said it was rescinding its ‘work anywhere policy’.
The company will now require staff to return to the office for at least two days a week for full-time employees from early next year.
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.
Ms 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 per cent 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.
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