Airbus has modified its workplace attendance policy after experiencing labor disruptions in several countries. The aerospace manufacturer, which recently announced plans to restrict remote working to one day per week starting in September, has reversed course following employee pressure and industrial action.
Chief Executive Guillaume Faury had announced the stricter in-office requirements in June, arguing that while remote work proved valuable during the pandemic, the company now needed employees present to collaborate, share expertise, and manage the organization’s expanded workforce. The directive aimed to support Airbus in meeting heightened aircraft demand and developing new products.
Strike activity emerged across Spain, France, and the United Kingdom in response to the policy change. In Spain alone, approximately 40% of the company’s 14,000 local workforce engaged in stoppages since July, with grievances extending beyond remote work to include transportation, paid leave, and compensation. France experienced sporadic protests against proposals requiring office attendance four days weekly for certain staff categories.
Company management has now instructed that staff may work remotely an average of two days per week, effectively preserving the existing arrangement and retreating from Faury’s initial directive. An Airbus spokesperson stated the organization remains committed to increased on-site presence but acknowledged that implementing change requires employee input. The company indicated it would apply a gradual transition approach, empowering managers to implement hybrid arrangements pragmatically within their teams.
Airbus indicated that production levels, a critical component of Europe’s defense industry, remained unaffected by the industrial actions during this period.
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