ANZ reports more conduct cases as office-attendance checks tighten

ANZ has disciplined hundreds of employees in a year in which it put a sharper focus on office attendance, its annual report shows.

In the financial year to 30 September, ANZ dealt with 2204 employee relations cases involving alleged breaches of its code of conduct, up 40 per cent on the year before. Of those, 670 led to a formal consequence or the employee leaving the bank. A total of 139 people were fired, 405 were given warnings and 126 left ANZ.

The annual report says the rise in cases was mainly driven by an increased focus on office attendance non-compliance. ANZ's hybrid working policy requires staff to be in the office at least half of their working days, with the other half available for remote work.

The totals cover alleged code-of-conduct breaches generally. They do not establish that every dismissal was for failing to attend the office.

The figures appear on page 198 of the bank's 348-page annual report. ANZ has 39,000 staff worldwide, including 18,000 in Australia. The bank declined to comment.

ANZ's own policy operates separately from Victoria's proposed right to at least two work-from-home days a week, which had not been implemented by Premier Ben Carroll after he succeeded Jacinta Allan.

Chief executive Nuno Matos has focused on accountability and non-financial risk. The annual report was released on 9 November and signed by chairman Paul O'Sullivan. Victoria's previously proposed work-from-home right was intended to begin in September 2026, but had not been implemented at the time of the report. The bank's own half-in-office policy is distinct from that state proposal.

Illustrative empty office desk in Italy, not an ANZ workplace or employee.