CBA’s Group Executive Human Resources Sian Lewis angered many Finance Sector Union members at the bank when she posted an edict that all staff were expected to return to the office 50 per cent of the time from 17 July.
The direction from Ms Lewis was issued without consultation with CBA staff or the union.
The FSU and a delegation of members from CBA sought to meet with the HR boss last week to have the edict overturned but Sian Lewis failed to show up.
She left it to HR staff to explain to upset CBA workers why the bank was placing limits on its Work From Home policy.
“It is totally unacceptable that CBA delivers an edict to its staff altering work from home arrangements without any consultation,” said FSU National Secretary Julia Angrisano.
“Hundreds of our members at CBA have contacted the union complaining the bank was overturning working arrangements that have worked well for the bank and its staff.”
“Our members have raised serious concerns about the significant impact this change would have on them, including on their work/life balance, mental health and well-being and caring responsibilities.”
“They complain about the financial impact of increased commuting costs and childcare costs.”
“Some say they will now be seeking employment elsewhere.”
“For some CBA staff, their teams are not local so they are being made to go to an office to engage in video meetings with other workers interstate or overseas, or working from home that day.”
“The pandemic showed how well working from home can be achieved and the FSU believes that a new benchmark on remote work has now been set.”
“We want the CBA to suspend the mandate and engage in proper consultation to jointly develop a working from home policy which should then be enshrined in the CBA Enterprise Agreement.”
