ABN AMRO walkout highlights growing Dutch return-to-office trend

Many ABN AMRO employees are set to stop work for four hours on Thursday, November 5, following a dispute over pay and mandatory office attendance. The action comes as several major employers in the Netherlands seek to tighten their hybrid working policies.

ABN AMRO staff protest over pay and mandatory office days

Hundreds of ABN AMRO employees are expected to take part in a four-hour work stoppage at the bank's Diemen office on Thursday, November 5. According to news agency ANP, the industrial action is scheduled to take place between 11am and 3pm.

Hybrid working is a key point of disagreement between ABN AMRO and its employees. The bank wants staff to spend an average of 50 percent of their working time in the office, while trade union FNV is pushing for a maximum of one compulsory office day per week, allowing employees greater flexibility over where they work.

The disagreement is part of stalled negotiations over a new collective labour agreement (cao), covering approximately 18.000 employees. Workers are also protesting over pay and workload, with unions demanding higher salaries and better working conditions.

FNV has warned that further industrial action could follow if the dispute remains unresolved. Although negotiations are expected to resume on November 19, the disagreement reflects growing tensions over hybrid working as more employers in the Netherlands push for stricter office attendance requirements.

More Dutch employers push for compulsory office attendance

ABN AMRO is not the only major company reconsidering its hybrid working arrangements. Telecommunications company VodafoneZiggo wants employees to spend three days a week in the office instead of two, starting January 1, 2027.

According to BNR, the proposal is awaiting approval from the company's works council, and employees who cannot or do not want to comply would be offered a voluntary departure scheme.

VodafoneZiggo argues that employees who come into the office often end up attending online meetings because their colleagues are working from home. The company believes having more staff present at the same time could improve collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Meanwhile, Booking.com has already secured court approval for stricter attendance requirements. On October 28, the Amsterdam District Court ruled that the company could require employees to spend at least 40 percent of their working time in the office, equivalent to two days a week for full-time staff. The court sided with Booking.com after its works council opposed the change, accepting the company's argument that in-person interaction could improve collaboration and workplace relationships.

Is hybrid working becoming less flexible in the Netherlands?

Research suggests that Dutch employers are becoming stricter about working from home. According to a 2025 survey by employers' association AWVN, 78 percent of the 355 participating employers required staff to attend the workplace on specified days. However, this often involved enforcing existing agreements rather than introducing new rules.

Does spending more time in the office actually improve workplace relationships? A study published by Arbo Unie on November 3, involving more than 10.000 employees, found little difference in perceived support and appreciation between those working in the office and those working partly or entirely from home. The findings suggest that more compulsory office days do not automatically lead to stronger connections between colleagues.

For employees in the Netherlands, there is no automatic legal right to work from home. However, under the Dutch Flexible Working Act, eligible employees can submit a written request to change their working location, which employers must consider. Individual employment contracts and collective labour agreements may also affect working-from-home arrangements.