Standard Chartered CEO Bucks Trend: 4 Days in Office—and Trusts 'Adults' Thereafter
Standard Chartered CEO Bucks Trend: 4 Days in Office—and Trusts 'Adults' Thereafter
ENS Business | August 5, 2025
Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered, has taken a stand in the global banking return-to-office debate—opting for a flexible hybrid policy rather than full mandates enforced by rivals like JPMorgan and HSBC.
Speaking in July 2025, Winters emphasized trust in his workforce: “We work with adults, and the adults can have an adult conversation with other adults … How other companies make that work? Everybody’s got their own recipe.” 1
Winters said: “Our MDs want to come to the office. They come to collaborate … but if they need flexibility, they can get it.” 2
🧭 A Contrarian Approach
While many major banks tighten policies—JPMorgan demanding five days, HSBC mandating four, Citi tracking attendance—the approach at Standard Chartered seems deliberately adult-centric. Winters himself aims to work in-office four days per week, setting tone but not policing choice. 3
The bank reported a 48% rise in pre-tax profit in Q2 2025, a result Winters referenced as proof the model works. He says flexibility aids retention and morale, particularly for employees balancing care duties and personal commitments. 4
🏦 Banks Push Back, But He Stands Firm
Competitors continue tightening up. HSBC recently ordered senior staff to work in the office at least four days weekly, citing leadership visibility as key. Meanwhile, JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs push for full office presence. 5
In contrast, Winters advocates autonomy: “Our employees and managers should agree what works best for them.” At Standard Chartered, the numbers suggest no compromise to performance. 6
📌 Key Takeaways
- 4 days office, 1 flexible day—Smith’s model prioritizes trust without rigidity.
- Strong financials—Q2 profits surged 48%, supporting continued flexibility.
- Culture vs control—Standard Chartered bets on accountability, not attendance.
- Trend-spotter—A compelling alternative in finance’s return-to-office wave.
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