Dutch home workers reluctant to spend more time in the office

A survey commissioned by the FNV union and Nieuwsuur news programme reveals that more than half of Dutch remote workers would find it difficult to return to full-time office work, as their home and work lives have become closely intertwined. The primary concerns cited were potential drops in productivity, increased commuting times, and negative effects on health and well-being.

Businesses across the Netherlands have been urging their employees to spend more time in the office since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, but none of the country's 25 largest companies currently require their staff to work from Monday to Friday. Jelle Kajim, an HR support professional at Remote, values the flexibility of remote work.

"We have 2,000 people, but we don't have any offices," he noted. "In 10 years, I've never worked in an office, and sometimes I'm curious about it. I recently had to go to Paris for work, but I don't see myself commuting on a metro train every day."

A recent court case involving Booking.com and its works council resulted in a victory for the company, which had sought to compel employees to spend 40% of their contracted hours at its Amsterdam headquarters. The judge in the case stated that it is "very normal" for people to travel to work two days a week, but only around a quarter of the company's staff currently do so.

In recent years, major employers have embraced remote work. In 2019, only 14% of new collective bargaining agreements included provisions for remote work, but this figure rose to 38% in the previous year. Nationale Nederlanden, an insurance company, promotes a balanced approach to remote and in-office work, encouraging staff to spend two days a week in the office.

They emphasize the importance of collaboration, innovation, development, and social connections in the office environment, while also acknowledging the benefits of remote work, such as flexibility, concentration, and a better work-life balance.