Aeroplane manufacturer Airbus has reportedly eased its plans to restrict remote working, following a series of strikes by employees. The company is said to have watered down proposals that would have limited remote working to one day a week from September.
Currently, Airbus staff are able to work remotely for two days a week. The initial push for increased office presence was part of a campaign by CEO Guillaume Faury, who stated in June that in-person collaboration was needed for skill sharing and to meet demand.
Disruption caused by strikes in Spain, France, and the UK reportedly led to the change. Managers have now been informed that staff can work from home an average of two days a week. An Airbus spokesperson stated the company's objective remains increased on-site presence but acknowledged the need to listen to employee feedback for effective change.
In Spain, approximately 40% of the company's 14,000 local workers have reportedly participated in stoppages since July, citing issues including remote working, transport, paid leave, and salaries. Sporadic protests have also occurred in France and the UK regarding plans to require white-collar staff to be in the office four days a week. However, Airbus production has reportedly not been affected by the strikes.