European Parliament lawmakers voted 413 to 210, with 29 abstentions, to adopt a legislative own-initiative report demanding binding obligations for employers to protect workers’ physical and mental health from work-related psychosocial risks, the European Parliament reported.
Forcing Commission Action on Burnout
The vote establishes a formal push to force the European Commission to propose new rules addressing burnout, stress, and mental health disorders tied to modern workplaces. Before any proposal moves forward, lawmakers want a comprehensive impact assessment evaluating existing legislation.
Lawmakers Seek Bans on Harassment and Workplace Bullying
The approved report calls for clear recognition from the European Commission and European Union member states that work-related psychosocial risks directly cause occupational diseases. Lawmakers want employers to implement strict policies defining and banning violence, harassment, bullying, and discriminatory behavior that threatens worker dignity and health.
EU Recommends Risk Assessments for Remote Work and Surveillance
To combat excessive workloads and high work intensity, the text recommends regular psychosocial risk assessments. Any major restructuring or reorganization—such as shifting to remote work or introducing automated decision-making and monitoring systems—would require a prior risk assessment conducted alongside workers and their representatives. Employers must also ensure algorithmic management systems do not lead to excessive surveillance, maintaining human oversight at all times. The Parliament also reiterated workers' right to disconnect.
Structured Return-to-Work Plans for Employees
Under the proposed measures, employees absent due to work-related psychosocial risks would gain the right to a supported and sustainable return to work. Lawmakers recommend that employers design individual return-to-work plans, adjusting working hours, organization, tasks, or workloads accordingly.
Moving Away From the Burnout Society
Estelle Keijmans, the rapporteur for the file from Belgium, emphasized the urgency of addressing modern workplace pressures. “We are calling on the Commission to act regarding mental health and psychosocial risks in the workplace,” Keijmans said, according to the European Parliament report. “Europe has to move away from a ‘burnout society’ and help create healthy workplaces where everyone can fully thrive, especially given that the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in the workplace continues to grow.”
A Three-Month Deadline for Executive Response
Following the vote, the European Commission has three months to respond to the Parliament’s request. The executive body must either inform lawmakers of specific measures it plans to take or justify its refusal to initiate legislation.
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