Barclays Bank

A report by Urgewald found UK-based banks provided $8.3bn in coal financing since Cop26, the largest amount in Europe and largely driven by increases from Barclays and HSBC. Barclays’ coal financing rose 34% to about $1.6bn between 2022 and 2025, while HSBC’s exposure more than doubled to $414m. Overall UK bank flows to the coal value chain grew 17% over the period even as EU banks cut financing by 46%; globally coal finance remained broadly flat with Chinese banks supplying the largest share. » More on theguardian.com

Barclays has relaxed its planned requirement for UK staff to be in the office at least three days a week, allowing employees to delay compliance until 2027 if they obtain permission from their line manager by the end of the week. The move reverses the bank’s summer plan to enforce the rule from 5 October for its 45,000 UK staff, with more senior roles expected in four days a week versus the current two. Barclays said it will review its flexible working policy and continue discussions with Unite while offering transitional support for colleagues with specific circumstances. » More on theguardian.com

Barclays is requiring employees to be in the office at least three days a week from next month, and managers at least four days, up from the previous two mandatory days. The union Unite, which represents much of the UK workforce, is organizing resistance and is calling for exemptions for commuters and caregiving responsibilities as well as a one-off attendance allowance. Unite also demands exceptions for long commutes and says Barclays' justification is not evidence-based. Barclays and Unite are in talks, but the union's demands have not been accepted so far. » More on manager-magazin.de