Dutch approve to make work from home a legal right

The Dutch parliament approved legislation to establish work-from-home as a legal right, making the Netherlands one of the first countries to grant remote working flexibility by law.

The legislation was approved by the lower house of the bicameral parliament of the Netherlands on Wednesday. It still needs a nod from the Dutch senate before its final adoption.

The pandemic has fuelled a shift in attitudes about work, with many workers seeking to maintain some of the flexibility they’ve experienced over the last two years. But with companies seeking to respond to surging demand as the pandemic recedes, the topic has become an increasingly polarising issue.

Last month, Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk issued an ultimatum for staff at the company to return to the office – or leave.