The resolution recognises the benefits of working from home in terms of flexibility and autonomy but also underlines health risks deriving from over-connection, an increasing connection between work and private life, and higher work intensity and stress linked to work-related technology use.

According to a recent Eurofound e-survey, mental well-being has decreased across all age groups since the onset of the European pandemic, reaching its lowest level among young people and professionals.

The data is confirmed by the European Parliament report on mental health in the digital world of work, which stressed that 64 per cent of young people between 18 and 34 were at risk of depression in 2021 due to a lack of employment and financial and educational prospects, as well as loneliness and social isolation.

The resolution asks the EU and member states to regulate digital work to protect mental health, in cooperation with employers and workers’ representatives, implementing an EU Mental Health Strategy along with national action plans.

The EU Parliament again calls on member states governing bodies to include mental health in their health crisis and pandemic emergency response.

The resolution follows the previous one on the EU’s public health strategy post-Covid-19 adopted in July 2020, where Parliament already recognised mental health as a fundamental human right and called for an EU action plan on mental health, aiming to set a policy standard for mental health and wellness support for workers across the EU. In 2021 it called for the right to disconnect from work outside working hours with no negative consequences. Finally, on 10 March 2022, the Parliament adopted the resolution on a new EU strategic framework on health and safety at work post 2020.

It is now up to member states and institutions to implement concrete prevention and protection actions.