Burnout at work: MEPs call for stronger EU protections
MEPs called for EU-wide rules to tackle work-related stress, depression and anxiety, which affect almost one in three workers. Far-right groups opposed the text, arguing that it would place excessive obligations on businesses.
The European Parliament has called for stronger EU action to tackle burnout, stress, and other work-related conditions, as digitalization and AI continue to reshape the modern workplace. In a resolution, MEPs want new rules to recognize psychosocial risks such as harassment, excessive workloads, and unpredictable working hours as potential causes of occupational diseases, including mental health disorders.
According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 29% of EU workers experienced stress, depression, or anxiety caused or exacerbated by their work in 2025, with the figure rising to 32% among workers aged 25 to 39. The resolution urges the European Commission to introduce EU-wide rules to protect workers, with binding obligations on employers, stronger labor inspections, and a right to disconnect outside working hours.
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