Unicredit changes course on working from home and tightens the rules of flexibility. A signed internal directive overturns the organization regarding the presence in the office of the Milanese banking group: the working week returns entirely to presence from Monday to Friday, with the office identified as the “standard workplace”.
“Stop remote working as an automatic right”
“Remote work is not an automatic right for anyone. Fixed days of remote work are no longer foreseen by default; any exceptions must be agreed through predefined processes, as part of sustainable planning within the teams”, reads the memo sent to workers in recent days.
“The measure comes into force with immediate effect for the leaders”
“We will maintain flexibility for emergencies, medical visits and other legitimate needs which I ask you to report to your manager as soon as possible. Leaders lead by example by respecting these rules first, applying them consistently and explaining the fundamental reasons for them to their teams. We particularly expect GEC-1s (managers who report directly to the Group Executive Committee) to lead by example on this front. Customers and colleagues come first. The organization of work must support the quality of our service, our results and the support and the growth of our people. The measure comes into force with immediate effect for leaders and first management lines. For management, remote working is eliminated and remains permissible only in exceptional cases and upon formal agreement”, it is written to employees.
The initiative provoked a harsh reaction from the group’s trade union organizations (Fabi, First Cisl, Fisac Cgil, Uilca and Unisin). At the end of an urgent meeting called to ask for clarification, the workers’ representatives expressed absolute opposition to a choice defined as “unilateral”, both in substance and in method. “At a time when workers are asking for greater flexibility, we expected an expansion of the audience to the commercial network, as done by other banking groups, not a drastic reduction”, contest the unions.
“Mobilization measures are coming”
The acronyms underline how the workforce has directly contributed to the group’s financial results – fresh from 22 consecutive record quarters – by working regularly even on Mondays and Fridays. The social partners have asked for a formal review of the company’s position. In the absence of a step backwards, the unions announced the start of mobilization measures.
Countermeasures on the table include opposition to plans to extend agency opening hours, limiting smart learning and protest actions over workloads, commercial pressures and staffing shortages.