The Strasbourg plenary recognises the benefits of working from home, such as flexibility and autonomy, but warns of the dangers, including for health. And calls on Member States to further regulate the matter, guaranteeing the right to disconnect 05 Jul 2022 Veronica Balocco
The European Parliament recognises the benefits of working from home, such as greater flexibility and autonomy, but warns of 'significant health risks from over-connection, blurring of work-life boundaries and increased work intensity or 'technostress', the stress of using technology at work". This was stated by the Strasbourg plenary in a resolution adopted by 501 votes in favour, 47 against and 85 abstentions. MEPs warn of "risks to workers' mental health and threats to the right to privacy posed by technology-enabled control and surveillance through artificial intelligence software and tools, real-time remote monitoring of progress and performance, and time tracking." Other factors that cause additional stress are also highlighted, including financial insecurity, fear of unemployment, limited access to healthcare, isolation, as well as changes in working hours and inadequate work organisation due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis. More rules and an ad hoc directive The plenary urges the EU and its member states to "address the problem through a European mental health strategy, a European strategy for care and national action plans". Parliament calls on European institutions and countries to "further regulate digital work to protect mental health, in collaboration with employers and workers' representatives". Finally, MEPs call for "a directive on minimum standards and conditions to guarantee all workers the effective right to disconnect and to regulate the use of existing and new digital tools for work purposes".