ANZ staff members' yearly performance evaluations and bonus allocations will be connected to their physical presence in the office. This approach mirrors the policies implemented by many other organisations, such as Suncorp Group and Origin Energy

Both of these organisations previously adopted similar measures to discourage remote work among their employees.

"Working in line with ANZ’s expectations for hybrid working, as well as any specific commitments within your team, is just like any other behavioural expectation at ANZ. This means if you don’t meet the standards expected, it may factor into your performance rating and PRR,” said the company, according to the Australian Financial Review. 

ANZ managers have communicated the new policy to their teams through generic emails this week, reiterating the bank's expectation that employees commit at least half of their monthly working hours to office attendance. 

Despite ongoing negotiations between employers and staff regarding hybrid workplace policies, a recent decision from the Fair Work Commission, an independent Australian government agency overseeing workplace relations, including wages, work conditions, and staff rights, supports employers' authority to bring workers back to the office post-pandemic. 

The Finance Sector Union, a national trade body, has strongly criticised ANZ's anti-work-from-home stance, stating in a Wednesday release, "This is a significant announcement that is going to disrupt the lives of thousands of ANZ colleagues and put future performance outcomes at risk."