Booking works council appeals ruling on mandatory office days

The works council (ondernemingsraad) of Booking is appealing a ruling by a subdistrict court judge. Last month the judge ruled that the company may require employees to spend at least 40% of their working time in the office.

Booking is not waiting for the appeal. A spokesperson said the company will continue implementing the rule, starting with a gradual six-month transition period. "Everyone has time to get used to it," the spokesperson said. There will be more desks, phone booths and meeting rooms in the office before January.

The works council says Booking has not properly shown that compulsory office work improves collaboration. It also says there is no proof that employees themselves benefit. In its view, compulsory office days can harm staff who joined because the company allows flexible work locations, many of whom live far outside Amsterdam.

Booking rejects that argument. The company says that after the pandemic the expectation was always that people would be in the office 40% of the time. Employees who moved further away did so knowing that, it says, so the rule is not a term of employment.

The company says it will take special needs into account, such as medical reasons, or cases where people say they are unable to comply for other reasons. "We take those concerns seriously," the spokesperson said.