Major bank faces legal action for forcing staff into office 3 days a week

SANTANDER could be hit with legal action after attempts to force its new TSB workforce into the office three days a week. The high street bank completed its takeover of TSB in April and is now merging its operations and policies teams. TSB staff have been told they will need to work from the office three days a week from April 2027, according to The Times. The bank did not previously require staff to work from the office for a set number of days. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Representatives at the TBU Union are preparing to take their case to the Employment Tribunal over concerns staff won’t be able to change their circumstances due to personal and medical reasons. It is understood that talks between staff and management to make individual arrangements are ongoing. TSB has announced it will make 130 people redundant following the Santander acquisition. Santander bought TSB for £2.9billion and plans to gradually phase out the brand. The disagreement is the latest attempt of a business to get staff to return to the office after the Covid-19 pandemic. In September 2025 Novo Nordisk announced that its staff will need to return to the office full-time from January 2026. Most read in Money Meanwhile, from July 2025 John Lewis staff were told they must work in the office, in store or with brands and suppliers three days a week. Santander was approached for comment. TSB said: “We informed all colleagues of the changes in June that will take effect from 1st April 2027 that will bring TSB in line with Santander policy at three days a week. “As such, we are currently operating our standard policy at TSB across teams – ahead of implementation in April 2027. “We have made it clear that there will be exceptions and policy put in place for those who require flexibility for personal and health reasons – and these conversations are already under way between management and colleagues.” Comment now