Commonwealth Bank orders ALL its staff back to the office: Major WFH shift

Another of Australia’s Big Four banks has ordered staff to return to the office in a decision that shows the Covid era is of workplace flexibility is fast drawing to a close.

The Commonwealth Bank’s chief executive Matt Comyn advised its 49,000-strong workforce in an email on Monday they will be required to physically come into the office at least 50 per cent of the time from July.

The decision follows fast on the heels of one made by NAB chief executive Ross McEwan’s order on April 28th that all senior staff must return five days a week. 

His decision was partly due to what he say as the bank’s duty to reinvigorate cities and regional centres which have struggled with a lack of office workers.   

Commonwealth Bank is the latest financial giant advising staff to return to the office 

In a statement, the Commonwealth Bank told Daily Mail Australia it was providing a ‘framework’ for staff to get back to the office

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In a statement, the Commonwealth Bank told Daily Mail Australia it was providing a ‘framework’ for staff to get back to the office. 

‘Our approach to hybrid working has always been about finding the right balance between our longstanding commitment to flexible working and ensuring we deliver the best outcomes for our customers,’ a spokeswoman said.

‘Over the past couple of years we’ve spent time testing different working models based on our own insights, regular feedback from our people, and the lessons of other organisations. 

‘Based on these experiences, we have recently set the expectation that from mid-July, our office-based people will be required to come into the office for at least 50 per cent of their work time over the month. 

‘This provides individual flexibility for where work is done for half the working month, as well recognises the important role the workplace plays in collaboration, innovation, wellbeing and career development.’

The bank said the aim of the move is to drive innovation and collaboration with face-to-face interactions.

‘We’ve learnt that on average, we actively connect with 11 more colleagues each day when we are together in the office and spend 20–30 minutes more time collaborating,’ CBA group executive of human resources Sian Lewis told the Australian Financial Review earlier. 

‘Our people also spend 40 per cent or more time connecting with their leader and peers when in the office. We have seen that innovation is an outcome of our people physically working together.’

Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn issued a staff memo this week

NAB’s chief executive Ross McEwan announced last week senior staff would be required to return to the office five days a week.

‘I’ve said to the team, it’s time to come back five days in the office,’ he told 9News.

‘I’m one for flexibility, I always have been, but we have also got to make sure our people are trained and developed well.’

Other staff will be required to increase the number of times they visit the office to at least two or three days a week.

CR Commercial Real Estate Group chief executive Nicole Duncan backed the decision by NAB. 

‘I think there’s a real need for CEOs to take a lead on this,’ she said.

‘The younger generation, the older generation – otherwise we are going to end up with no leaders.’