Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Virtual Plenary Heard Accounts of Fear and Complaints After Cuts of About 1,000 Remote Workers; Itaú Bank Denies Mass Dismissal and Speak of Individual Review.
On the night of September 24, the Banking Workers’ Union of São Paulo, Osasco and Region held a virtual plenary with Itaú employees to discuss the future of home office and the effects of recent layoffs. The meeting brought together accounts of panic, complaints, and proposals for mobilization.
The plenary was convened after September 8, when the bank implemented cuts estimated at around 1,000 people who were working in remote or hybrid mode, according to the union. Itaú stated that the decisions resulted from a “careful review of conduct” related to remote work and time tracking, without confirming numbers. “It was not a mass dismissal”, the institution said in a statement to the press.
Reports detailed that the bank used telemetry and monitoring of clicks/keyboard to substantiate the decisions, without prior notification to all workers, which experts consider controversial from the perspective of transparency and LGPD.
-
Inflation in March reaches 0.88% according to IBGE and pressures the Brazilian economy, impacting family budgets and requiring more strategic decisions to maintain financial control.
-
In Paraná, distributor Pacto connects 100% of the load in Coronel Vivida to batteries: a BES of 10 MW and 20 MWh costs just over R$ 30 million and lowers the local tariff now.
-
With a dependence of up to 80% on gas imported from the United States, Mexico is responding with a robust energy strategy, betting on shale gas, creating a scientific committee, and preparing to expand natural gas production to reduce vulnerability and strengthen its energy security in the coming years.
-
The United States proposes to Brazil a critical minerals agreement with a minimum price to combat Chinese dumping and priority for investment, but the Planalto is blocking the signing out of fear of upsetting China and due to electoral calculations in a year of competition.
The issue gained national attention. On Tuesday (9/23), a public hearing in Brasília discussed health and working conditions in the category, with federal deputy Vicentinho (PT-SP) including Itaú’s case on the agenda.
Why Itaú Dismissed and What Is at Stake
According to the bank, the dismissals were individual following a review of conduct in the home office and “incompatible” standards with principles of trust. The official version emphasizes that it was not a collective layoff and that there was “responsible management.” The number of dismissals was not confirmed by Itaú.
The union contests criteria and lack of transparency. It claims that the metric of digital activity disregards the nature of technical tasks, thinking periods, system testing, and logging failures, which may distort productivity. The entity demands access to the rules and data that justified the cuts and requests case-by-case review.
Journalistic investigations reported the use of surveillance software that records clicks, keystrokes, and browsing, raising debates about consent and purpose of processing. Legal experts interviewed by the press point out legal risks if there is no adequate legal basis and prior communication.
Plenary of 9/24 Had Accounts of Panic, Complaints, and Proposals
At the plenary, union leaders reinforced collective mobilization and reported insecurity among bankers after the cuts. Complaints were raised about intensified surveillance and unilateral contractual changes for those hired as full remote, along with concerns regarding neurodivergent individuals who were dismissed.
Among the agenda items presented to the bank are: right to disconnection, provision of equipment, transparency in metrics, respect for LGPD, and health in remote work. The entity also reported that, in meetings, Itaú did not indicate immediate reinstatement of the affected workforce.
The union announced that it will compile complaints and claims for negotiation and will maintain actions in workplaces and online. There is a Complaint Channel open for workers who feel threatened or disrespected.
Impacts on Home Office, LGPD, and Automation in the Banking Sector
The case reignited the debate on data management in the home office. Experts advocate for combined indicators (deliverables, quality, and deadlines) instead of raw telemetry. The union argues that opaque monitoring undermines trust and can sicken teams.
There is also concern about the acceleration of automation/AI in the banking sector, with reduction of workforce in back office areas. Union leaders cited the need for more appropriate evaluation criteria in future agreements to avoid new waves of layoffs linked to algorithms.
For workers and companies, compliance with the LGPD requires clear purpose, appropriate legal basis, and transparency regarding the data collected. Prior communication and data governance are critical points in remote monitoring policies.
What the Bank Says and What to Expect from the Negotiations
In statements to the press, Itaú maintains that the dismissals were specific and individual, based on a careful review of remote work and time recording; avoids numbers and denies “mass dismissal.” The controversy persists because accounts and estimates from the union indicate around 1,000 cuts.
The union, in turn, presses for transparency, reinstatement of sensitive cases, and negotiation of safeguards in the home office. Actions and sectoral meetings continue in São Paulo and at Fenaban.
In the background, Itaú is the largest private bank in the country, with about 96,000 employees in total and widespread adoption of hybrid regimes; estimates from international press suggest about 60% of the workforce in some hybrid modality. The bank did not confirm specific cuts by modality in the September incident.
What do you think? Did the bank err in relying on click telemetry to measure productivity or are the data a legitimate management tool? Should there be reinstatements? Leave your comment and argue whether digital monitoring improves performance or undermines rights in the home office.
Seja o primeiro a reagir!