HSBC UK has introduced a new policy that connects employee bonuses with office attendance, reinforcing its push toward in-person work. Employees must now be physically present in the office for at least 60 per cent of their working time. Failing to meet this threshold may negatively impact performance reviews and annual bonus payouts.
The updated directive applies across the bank’s office-based workforce. Employees have been informed that consistent non-compliance with the attendance target will be reflected in their performance assessments. This move is part of a broader effort by the bank to formalise and monitor hybrid work expectations more closely.
HSBC UK currently employs around 24,000 people in its retail and commercial banking divisions. Its existing hybrid model requires staff to work from the office at least three days a week. The new policy adds a performance-related consequence for not meeting this requirement. Managers will now have access to data-driven attendance tracking to ensure alignment with company standards.
This change marks HSBC UK’s entry into a growing list of financial institutions tightening remote work policies. These developments suggest a clear trend among large employers to restore pre-pandemic norms, despite earlier moves toward flexible working.
With more companies connecting compensation to physical presence, hybrid work is facing renewed scrutiny. For many employees, this signals a shift in how workplace performance will be judged going forward.
