RBC has reduced its telecommuting policy

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RÉVEIL-MATIN. After nearly three years of mass adoption of teleworking, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is now mandating being in the office three to four days a week, reports Reuters.

On Tuesday, the banking company told its employees that by May 1, 2023, they should spend more time at their desks. They are now only able to work from home once or twice a week.

The company has 97,000 employees worldwide, making it a Canadian financial institution with a strict telework policy.

For example, Desjardins Movement forces its employees to show up only once a week, while TD Bank only requires them to show up twice. The National Bank of Canada, meanwhile, aims for them to spend at least 40% of their time in the office.

A gradual return

In August 2022, RBC CEO Dave McKay began showing his colors, urging all employees in an internal memo to leave the comforts of their homes more to spend more time in the presence of their peers. Expecting to return to the office two to three times a week, he notes that telework is “here to stay.”

Later, in early March, during his conference call with his shareholders on his first quarter results, the leader hardened his tone, The Globe and Mail recalled.

He says productivity and innovation at his company have suffered as his workers work from home most of the time.

Measure received

Leaders in each department should receive a mandate to return to work three to four times a week according to their needs and inform their colleagues about next steps.

The Globe and Mail reports that RBC believes the request will make some teammates uncomfortable, and that it is “the best thing for the team.”

In a note sent to employees on Tuesday, RBC suggests that face-to-face makes it possible to “solve complex problems more quickly, learn and grow more effectively, and ultimately build stronger bonds with others.”

She fears that without increasing traffic to her workplaces, the company’s competitiveness will suffer.