After demanding an explanation from Nubank regarding the 12 layoffs announced after a negative reaction from employees to the changes in the fintech business model, the Union of Bank and Financial Workers of São Paulo, Osasco and the Region has informed that the first “virtual general session” with employees and collaborators of the company is scheduled to take place on Wednesday (12/11).
According to a note from the entity, the meeting will start at 7pm on Wednesday and its main topic will be Nubank’s changes in business model from next year onwards – something that would have drawn the ire of some employees, who expressed their dissatisfaction.
The union stated in a statement that it “has already begun listening to workers at Nobank, through a form through which they can send their complaints, doubts and suggestions.”
The union’s secretary general, Lucimara Malakias, said, “It will be a radical change for a large part of Nobank’s employees, because today’s work system at the bank is a full week in person and eight to 12 weeks of working from home. Therefore, we want to listen to the workers, their doubts and the problems they will face with the new system.”
He added, “This will be the first general session, but the union will hold other meetings and we will have other spaces for discussion and organization. It is necessary for everyone to participate.”
“It is important that the ‘nuclear bankers’ are heard, because this change has a significant impact on their professional and personal lives,” stressed Marcelo Gonçalves, director of the federation. “We will refer this hearing process to negotiations with Nobank,” he said.
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Layoffs at Nubank
Nubank fired 12 employees last Friday (7/11) after negative feedback and even a mutiny during a meeting in which the company announced the end of its nearly 100% home-office work model and the adoption of a hybrid format starting next year.
According to the company, starting July 1, 2026, at least 70% of employees will have to come to the Nubank office to work in person two days a week. The number of face-to-face days will increase to three days a week starting January 1, 2027. Currently, Nubank employees only attend the office for one week each quarter.
The change was actually announced in an email signed by Nubank CEO, David Velez. In the letter, the executive admits that the company was aware that there might be “disruption to a portion of employees” in the new work format.
Employee reaction
Last Thursday (6/11), Nubank promoted a meeting in which about 7,000 of the company’s 9.5,000 employees participated – most of whom participated in the meeting remotely via Zoom. Some employees reacted to the change in the form of work, and the meeting was characterized by moments of greater cruelty among the participants, including some insults and aggressive language.
The case was analyzed by Nubank’s Conduct Committee. The next day, the company announced in another email that 12 employees had been fired. “It was a difficult decision, but we imposed a limit on what constitutes disrespect and aggression,” Nobank’s letter said.
According to the internal body that analyzed the employees’ behavior at the meeting, there were elements that justified the dismissals with just cause. The digital bank also announced that “several other employees will receive written warnings.”
In an internal discussion forum, some Nubank employees claimed that they live far from the cities where the company has offices and that they were surprised by the management’s announcement. Others also complained about the supposed lack of representation of people from outside the southeast of the country at the financial institution, saying the change in work format hurts those living outside São Paulo the most.
The Union requests a meeting with Nubank
In a memo published on the entity’s website, the bank’s workers’ union has already requested an “urgent meeting” with Nubank’s management to “clarify the fair dismissals” that were announced last weekend.
The union stated that it was “in contact with those dismissed” and “recorded that their reports differ from the company’s allegations.”
“The union does not know the content of the messages that Nubank claims are the reason for the layoffs, and states that it will not accept that workers be punished for speaking out about changes that directly affect their lives and work. The entity requests the immediate installation of a negotiating table to handle the layoffs and requests that layoffs be suspended for the duration of the investigation,” it reads.
According to the president of the Union of Bank Workers of São Paulo, Osasco and Region, Neiva Ribeiro, “Changes that affect the lives of thousands of people require transparency, dialogue and predictability.” “Our priority is to protect workers’ right to demonstrate and avoid any form of retaliation,” he said.
The union also stated in the statement that, in addition to requesting a meeting with Nubank’s management, it requested “a suspension of Chapter 12 operations until an investigation is conducted.”
The entity also reaffirmed its “commitment to addressing workers’ demands in monthly meetings with the union” and promised to “call, in the coming days, an open virtual meeting for Nubank workers.”
“The union model has already received hundreds of contributions since Thursday (6/11),” the note says.
What does Nubank say?
Nubank told employees it will expand its offices to meet the increase in the number of people who will be working in person. The company has two units in São Paulo, one in Mexico City and one in Bogotá (Colombia).
Nubank also has three networking and training spaces, called Talent Hubs, in Montevideo (Uruguay), Berlin (Germany) and Durham (USA).
The company intends to open new offices in Campinas (SP), Belo Horizonte (MG), Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Washington (USA), Miami (USA) and Palo Alto (USA).
According to the fintech company, some jobs will continue to be performed remotely “due to the nature of their work requiring little or no interaction with other teams.” These roles include client service specialists, investment specialists, ombudsmen, data compilers, financial crimes investigators, regulatory solutions specialists, and human resources specialists.
Wanted by news report CapitalsIn a memo, Nobank stated that he “works to maintain open channels and rituals for free discussion among his employees, but does not tolerate disrespect and conduct violations.” “Nubank does not comment on individual terminations,” the statement read.
The report also questioned Nubank’s position on the union’s demonstration. The company has not yet commented specifically on the content of the entity’s statement, but the floor remains open for any comment.
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