Airbus has reportedly softened its plans to curb remote working after strikes broke out across several countries in protest at chief executive Guillaume Faury's push to get staff back into the office. The world's largest planemaker had intended to restrict home working to one day a week from September, down from the current two, as part of a drive to boost collective efficiency while the firm ramps up production to meet record demand. The climbdown highlights the limits of post-pandemic return-to-office mandates when workforces are prepared to take industrial action in response.

Managers have reportedly been told staff can now work from home an average of two days a week, effectively preserving the status quo rather than tightening it. The disruption included stoppages in Spain, where roughly 40% of the company's 14,000 local staff took part in strikes over remote working, transport, leave and pay, as well as sporadic protests in France and the UK against plans to force white-collar workers into offices four days a week. Airbus said production had not been affected, and a spokesperson said the firm still wanted greater on-site presence but would implement the change "more gradually" after listening to employee feedback.