Brussels December 14 2022: The European Central Bank will let staff work remotely for 110 days a year — roughly half their time.
The rules, which take effect Jan. 1, permit as many as 10 days a month away from desks. That’s stricter than the current system, under which employees must show up at the office at least eight days a month.
“The new policy resulted from an extensive benchmarking exercise, a hybrid pilot project in 2022, staff surveys and several rounds of consultation with staff representatives,” a spokesperson said. “It will be reviewed in two years.”
Employers across the globe have been pushing staff to spend more time in the office after pandemic restrictions were lifted, though flexible arrangements remain popular with workers. Some firms have used perks like subsidized food to lure employees back.
A recent survey by LinkedIn suggested that remote work may have peaked in the UK as a loosening labor market hands power back to employers.
The ECB’s new policy comes as staff representatives grumble about a planned 4% salary increase for next year, which they say will result in a loss of purchasing power as euro-area inflation is forecast to top 8% in 2022.
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