Nationwide Building Society has revealed it will close three office buildings in Swindon and allow 3,000 staff the choice to transfer to its national headquarters in the town or work from home, once the latest Covid-19 restrictions end.
The announcement is part of a new flexible policy outlined by the lender to allow 13,000 of its employees to choose where they work amid a shift to remote working.
The move comes after the group surveyed workers and found more than half - 57% - said they wanted to work from home full time.
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More than a third (36%) said they preferred a mix of home and office-based work. Only 6% stated a preference to return to a five-day week in the office.
The company, which employs 18,000 people, said it would invest in changes to its other offices throughout the country, which will see fewer meeting rooms and more collaboration spaces and quiet areas.
Nationwide added that it was looking at ways to help its 6,000 branch-based staff work more flexibly and “better manage their working day around their home lives”.
A trial initiative in five of its sites will also see traditional office-based employees work alongside branch colleagues.
Joe Garner, chief executive of Nationwide Building Society, said: “The last year has taught many of us that ‘how’ we do our jobs is much more important than ‘where’ we do them from.
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“We have listened and learned, and we are now deciding to move forward, not back.
“We are putting our employees in control of where they work from, inviting them to ‘locate for their day’ depending on what they need to achieve.”
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Nationwide said that three in 10 of its workers believe they are better at prioritising decisions in the interests of customers by working from home.
In a statement the firm said: “People won’t be forced to return to an office, but anyone who needs a desk in an office can have one – for whatever reason.
“Our offices will become hubs where teams can meet for creativity, social connection and collaboration.”
Nationwide found that 90% of those working from home want to continue doing so at least one day a week, with 60% saying it gives them a better work-life balance.
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Nationwide’s findings were part of a wider report compiled with Ipsos Mori, which sought views from other large organisations including American Express, Visa, B&Q owner Kingfisher and NatWest Group.
The report showed that 43% of remote workers feel they need some face-to-face time with colleagues to do their job effectively.