- Nationwide CEO says leaders must have a “physical presence” in the office
- The company’s RTO mandate has been in force for 12 months.
- Additional childcare support should be offered to support this
The debate around hybrid working continues, with British banking giant Nationwide speaking out against working from home in favor of job opportunities.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ show (via bbc), its CEO, Debbie Crosbie, said that a “physical presence” helps employees access more opportunities for professional growth at work.
Last month marked 12 months of the company’s return-to-office mandate, but the two-day-a-week policy has been less demanding than the tech industry’s standard three-day policy.
Nationwide is against WFH
Crosbie did not completely rule out working from home, acknowledging that it can offer the flexibility needed for workers with caring responsibilities; However, on the other hand, he indicated that leaders must be present to set an example and be available to their teams. suggesting that office work is a crucial part of becoming a leader.
She added: “Being seen and then seeing other leaders is a really important part of development… I benefited enormously from watching some really great leaders and how they tackled challenging problems.”
The boss’s stance on remote work marks a significant shift from her predecessor, Joe Garner, who supported flexible work settings.
At Nationwide specifically, men have been shown to be more likely to work from the office than women, leading Crosbie to urge companies to support female workers and families with flexible childcare options.
Despite championing office working, Crosbie is desperate not to discriminate against those less able to leave the home: “We just need to be careful that we don’t inadvertently prevent women from taking advantage of some of the opportunities by not being in the office. when they feel it is beneficial to both their skills and to contribute to the business.”
