Business · Companies · 15 hrs ago
Court allows Booking.com to require staff to work 40% of their time in office
An Amsterdam court backed Booking.com’s office attendance rule, allowing the travel company to require employees to work in the office for 40% of their time.
For someone working five days a week, that means two days in the office.
The company says the requirement tightens its existing policy, and the court said meeting in person can support teamwork, training and development.
Booking’s works council opposed the rule, citing staff concerns about commuting time and costs, as well as difficulty concentrating.
The court noted that only 27% of employees currently spend at least 40% of their time in the office, despite Amsterdam being their designated workplace.
The requirement takes effect after a six-month transition, with possible exceptions for individual employees facing difficulties; Booking says it will keep talking with the works council.
An Amsterdam court has ruled that Booking.com may require employees to spend 40% of their working time in the office.
The company’s works council had opposed the requirement, and Booking.com took the dispute to court.
The court said the policy was reasonable, citing the potential benefits of in-person contact for staff connections, training and teamwork.
Only 27% of employees currently spend at least 40% of their working time in the office.
The policy will take effect after a six-month transition period, with possible exceptions for individual employees facing difficulties.
- Who
- Booking.com and its employees; the company’s works council opposed the requirement.
- What
- A court ruled that Booking.com may require employees to work 40% of their time in the office.
- When
- The ruling was reported on October 28, 2026. The requirement will begin after a six-month transition period.
- Where
- Amsterdam, where the court heard the case and Booking.com’s office is based.
- Why
- The court considered the requirement reasonable, including because in-person work can support connections, training and teamwork.
Booking.com
Booking.com works council
Office attendance
Booking.com
Booking.com said the requirement tightens its existing policy.
Booking.com works council
The works council argued it would worsen conditions for some employees.
Effects on employees
Booking.com
Booking.com said it would continue discussions with the works council.
Booking.com works council
The works council cited commuting time and costs, and concerns about reduced focus.
Many companies with office staff shifted to working from home.
Booking.com’s efforts to encourage more office attendance did not work; 27% of employees were spending at least 40% of their working time in the office.
The Amsterdam court ruled that Booking.com may require employees to work 40% of their time in the office.
A six-month transition period will precede the requirement, and individual exceptions may be made.
- Office requirement
- 40% of working time
- Current attendance
- 27% of employees spend at least 40% of their working time in the office
- Transition period
- Six months
- Survey response
- Nearly half of Booking.com’s 6,000 employees completed the works council survey
- Current rules
- 87% of survey respondents said they were satisfied with them
2 sources
What people are saying
meeting each other at the office can contribute to fostering connections, training and development, and effective collaboration between teams and team members
no turnaround, but a tightening of their current policy
Many other employers are watching this with great interest.