By Brazil Stock Guide – Bradesco (B3: BBDC3, BBDC4) informed employees on Monday (Dec. 1) that 844 staff members in its investment division will be required to return to 100% in-person work starting Jan. 2, 2026, formally ending the remote and hybrid formats adopted during and after the pandemic. The announcement follows the advance-notice rules set out in the Convenção Coletiva de Trabalho (CCT) — the sector’s collective bargaining agreement that establishes mandatory procedures, rights and timelines for changes in work arrangements.
The move comes as major Brazilian financial institutions tighten on-site requirements and unions report growing resistance among employees. Earlier this year, the Bank Workers’ Union said that some workers at Nubank (NYSE: NU) and Itaú Unibanco (B3: ITUB4; NYSE: ITUB) reacted strongly to similar policy shifts, triggering waves of complaints and intensifying scrutiny of workplace practices. Bradesco’s investment arm now enters a similar transition cycle, though the bank stresses that it is complying with collective-bargaining timelines and preparing the physical structure for the shift.
According to Bank Workers Union, Bradesco said it will provide adequate workspace for all employees involved, ensuring sufficient infrastructure for day-to-day activities. The São Paulo, Osasco and Region Bank Workers’ Union, however, said it will closely oversee the process. “The bank complied with the CCT deadline, but that does not end our worries,” said union director Vanderlei Alves. “It is essential that the return happens with proper health, ergonomic and space conditions. If workers face any irregularity or difficulty, they should immediately contact the union.”
The broader debate over on-site requirements has intensified after recent cases flagged by the union at other institutions. According to the Bank Workers’ Union, Nubank dismissed 12 employees on the same day an internal meeting presented its new hybrid policy — a sequence the union says raised concerns among staff about how the transition was handled. Under the new model, Nubank will require two in-person workdays per week starting in July 2026, increasing to three days a week in January 2027. The company said it maintains open dialogue with employees and does not comment on individual cases.
The union also said that roughly one thousand remote or hybrid workers at Itaú Unibanco were terminated following an internal review of productivity and time-tracking records. Itaú stated that the dismissals stemmed from conduct deemed incompatible with its principles and formed part of responsible management practices.
Read more: Itaú fires 1,000 staff after tracking remote work productivity
Nubank faces union pressure after firing 12 employees following home-office meeting