Key workers at Northampton firm being told to stay on site despite believing they can work from home

A Northampton banking campus has faced scrutiny from employees who believe they could work from home but are not being allowed to so.

Nationwide’s administration centre, in Moulton Park, has already implemented home working and split shifts for some of its departments.

However, other employers who are asked to work from the office are concerned that they are at risk for no reason as they believe they could do their job from home.

An employee who works in the PPI department said: “We had a case of COVID-19 last week. “We’re not up there with the NHS but we have now been deemed as key workers, but the company hasn’t provided us with any provisions to work from home.

“It doesn’t seem like a safe environment.

“There is no reason why we can’t work from home, so why aren’t we able to? Other departments are and managers in our department are.”

Another employee added: “The office has already had confirmed cases and seems to have scant regard for the safety of workers.

“Whilst many financial services are indeed key to the running of the country, other work performed here, such as investigating retrospective PPI claims, hardly warrants such a risk.

“The number of employees at the poses a significant and unnecessary risk to the town as a whole.

“Rather than investing in technology or methods that would enable employees to work safely from home, their approach is focused on how best to circumvent the regulations that have been put in place to protect the country.

“This is not only dangerous as we move forward through this crisis but selfish and disrespectful to the many business owners and individuals who have made huge sacrifices already.”

The banking giant has responded to these concerns by saying it is looking into ways for more employers to work from home.

A Nationwide spokesman said: “The safety of our colleagues is a top priority. Where possible we are enabling people to work from home, although as a critical service we need to ensure we can continue to support members at this difficult time.

“We are actively exploring ways to extend home working to more roles.

“We are taking a number of steps to protect our contact centre employees as they continue to deliver vital support to our members.

“We are ensuring social distancing rules are adhered to while making sure the highest cleaning standards are met throughout our buildings.

“We are also running split shifts to reduce the numbers of colleagues at any one time on site.”