THE TRADE UNION for financial services workers is to ballot AIB staff on new hybrid working protocols put forward by the bank, after the company’s original return-to-office protocol caused “significant backlash”.

John O’Connell, General Secretary of the Financial Services Union (FSU) said that if the ballot is rejected, the Union will refer the matter to the Workplace Relations Commission.

Speaking to The Journal, AIB said that following feedback from staff and the FSU, it will allow the use of staff hubs to count for one of a worker’s required office days.

AIB’s original return-to-office protocol, which was announced without consultation in August, did not allow staff to work from the company’s 47 staff hubs or 170 bank branches on days when they are mandated to work in the office.

Workers, particularly those who had moved to rural locations on the basis they could work remotely, now face extremely long commutes to attend the bank’s base office.

In a statement on the issue, O’Connell said the Union and the bank have been through “weeks of negotiations” following AIB’s unilateral announcement on the change to their hybrid working model.

“Since the announcement the FSU and AIB  have been involved in talks to try and reach a resolution to the issue,” he said.

As a result of the negotiations, he said staff can use an AIB office hub as one of the three days in the office and have “greater flexibility” on how the days in the office can be used.

He said: “The Bank and the Union will jointly review members pre-existing arrangements to provide exceptions and where evidenced pre-existing arrangements will be honoured”.

O’Connell said the proposals also state that any further changes will have to be agreed with the union in the future, which will give members clarity going forward.

An AIB spokesperson said: “We have listened to feedback from our people and taken on board constructive suggestions from the Financial Services Union. We have taken a number of steps to provide clarity for these colleagues on the days they will work in the office.”

“Those working on a hybrid basis will be able to utilise one of our 47 Local Working Hubs as an alternative to attending their base location on one of their weekly onsite attendance days, subject to availability and agreement.”

The bank said it has also secured more space for workers in an office block next to AIB’s office in Central Park, Leopardstown, Co Dublin.

It said some teams will be relocating their base location to the Central Park campus.

The bank added that it will not increase office attendance requirements further as long as the new arrangements are effective.