Official Journal of the European Union
Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on ‘Challenges of teleworking: organisation of working time, work-life balance and the right to disconnect’
(Exploratory opinion at the request of the Portuguese Presidency)
Carlos Manuel TRINDADE
Request from the Portuguese Presidency of the Council
Article 304 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship
Adoption in section
Adoption in plenary
Plenary session No
Outcome of vote
1. Conclusions and recommendations
2. Conceptual aspects and background to teleworking
3. The opportunities and risks of teleworking
For companies, teleworking can lead to productivity gains, though it may pose difficulties in terms of organisational culture and the organisation of work. From a business perspective, the use of teleworking has multiple objectives, including ( 11 ):
organising work on the basis of results, giving workers more autonomy and responsibility for results;
working with increased productivity and efficiency (with fewer interruptions);
saving space in premises/offices and making savings on associated costs;
facilitating access to work for certain categories of workers (those with care responsibilities or with physical disabilities).
4. The challenges of teleworking
4.1. Organisation of working time
4.2. Work-life balance
4.3. The right to disconnect
5. Actions by the European Commission, the Member States and the social partners
Brussels, 24 March 2021.
The President of the European Economic and Social Committee
( 1 ) Alex Soojung-Kim Pang (2017) Rest — Why you get more done when you work less (Penguin Life, 2018).
( 6 ) Eurofound and ILO, Working anytime, anywhere: The effects on the world of work (2017), pp. 51-54 (hereinafter ‘Eurofound and ILO 2017’).
( 7 ) European Commission, Telework in the EU before and after the COVID-19: where we were, where we head to, Science for Policy Briefs , 2020.
( 9 ) ILO, Telework in the 21st century, 2019, p. 294.
( 11 ) Eurofound and ILO 2017, p. 51.
( 12 ) Eurofound, Telework and ICT-based mobile work: flexible working in the digital age , 2020, p. 53 (hereinafter ‘Eurofound 2020’).
( 13 ) Eurofound and ILO 2017, p. 40.
( 14 ) See the resolution recently adopted by the European Parliament.
( 15 ) Telework in the 21st century, ILO, 2019, p. 298 .
( 16 ) European Social Partners Framework Agreement on Digitalisation, June 2020, p. 10.
( 17 ) Further exploring the working conditions of ICT-based mobile workers and home-based teleworkers , Working paper, 2020, pp. 23-33.
( 18 ) Eurofound 6th European Working Conditions Survey, Overview report , 2016, pp. 47-51. See also previous footnote.
( 19 ) For more information on the implications of teleworking for health and well-being, see: Eurofound 2020, pp. 27-35.
( 20 ) Eurofound 2020, p. 54.
( 21 ) Judgment of the European Court of Justice, case C-55/18, ECLI:EU:C:2019:402, paragraph 60. See other case law on the subject of teleworking: C-518/15; C-344/19; C-580/19; C-214/20; C-84/94.
( 22 ) Idem case C-55/18, ECLI:EU:C:2019:402, paragraph 63.
( 23 ) Telework in the 21st century, ILO, 2019, p. 302.
( 24 ) Main source: Eurofound 2020, pp. 13-26.
( 25 ) Eurofound 2020, p. 54.
( 26 ) Eurofound and ILO 2017, p. 33 and p. 40.
( 27 ) Eurofound and ILO 2017, p. 37.
( 28 ) See EESC opinion SOC/662 (see page 13 of this Official Journal).
( 29 ) Main source: Eurofound 2020, pp. 13-26.
( 30 ) See the resolution recently adopted by the European Parliament.
EUROPEAN SECTORAL SOCIAL DIALOGUE JOINT TEXTS ON TELEWORK AND DIGITALISATION ( 1 )
Eurocommerce and UNI, Europa, European agreement on guidelines on Telework and ICT-mobile work in commerce, 25 May 2018 (commerce)
EACB, EBF-FBE, ESBG and UNI Global Union, Declaration on Telework in the European Banking Sector, 17 November 2017 (banking)
ETNO and UNI Europa, Joint Declaration on ICT-based mobile work, 2 February 2017 (telecommunications)
ETNO and UNI Europa, Joint declaration on telework, 9 June 2016 (telecommunications)
ACME, BIPAR, CEA and UNI-Europa, Joint declaration on telework by the European social partners in the insurance sector, 10 February 2015 (insurance)
CEMR-CCRE and EPSU, CEMR-EP/EPSU joint statement on telework, 13 January 2004 (local and regional government)
Eurelectric and EPSU, EMCEF, Joint declaration on telework, 13 November 2002 (electricity)
Eurocommerce and UNI Europa, European Agreement on Guidelines on Telework in Commerce, 26 April 2001 (Commerce)
ETNO and UNI Europa, Guidelines for Telework in Europe, 7 February 2001 (telecommunications)
Joint Committee, Opinion on telework, 23 November 1998 (telecommunications)
ETNO and UNI-Europa, Joint Declaration on Artificial Intelligence, 30 November 2020 (telecommunications)
CEEMET and IndustriAll, Joint opinion on the impact of digitalisation on the world of work in the met industries, 9 November 2020 (metal industry)
EFIC and EFBWW, European Social Partners joint statement on Digital Transformation in workplaces of the European Furniture Industry, 6 July 2020 (Furniture)
Federation of European Social Employers and EPSU, Joint Position Paper on Digitalisation in the Social Services Sector — Assessment of Opportunities and Challenges, 6 June 2020 (social services)
Eurelectric and EPSU, IndustriAll, Digitalisation at the heart of social partners’ commitment to keep the lights on, 9 April 2020 (electricity)
Eurelectric and EPSU, IndustriAll, A Social Partners’ Framework of Actions — Challenges and opportunities of the digitalisation for the workforce in the European Electricity Sector, 9 April 2020 (electricity)
PostEurop and UNI Europa, Joint Declaration on Training in the Digital Era, 6 December 2019 (postal services)
ECEG and IndustriAll, Joint recommendations on digital transformations in the workplace for the European chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastics sectors, 8 November 2019 (chemical industry)
EFCI/FENI and UNI Europa, Joint Statement on the Impact of Digitalization on Employment in the Cleaning and Facility Services Industry, 29 October 2019 (industrial cleaning)
INTERGRAF and UNI-Europa, Print is vital for the future of reading — INTERGRAF and UNI Europa Graphical & Packaging joint statement, 21 October 2021 (graphical industry)
FEPORT, ESPO and ETF, Joint statement ‘Market based and technological developments in the shipping sector and technological innovation represent major challenges for the port sector’, 24 June 2019 (ports)
AMICE, BIPAR, Insurance Europe and UNI Europa, Follow-up statement on the social effects of digitalization, 15 February 2019 (insurance)
IRU and ETF, Joint statement from Social partners for better regulation and digital enforcement, 7 December 2018 (road transport)
EBF-FBE and UNI Europa, Joint Declaration on the Impact of Digitalisation on Employment, 30 November 2018 (banking)
CEPI and IndustriAll, A social partner resolution addressing the ongoing digitalisation in the European pulp and paper sector and its potential impact on industry and employment, 6 July 2018 (paper industry)
CEEMET and IndustriAll, The impact of digitalisation on the world of work in the metal, engineering and technology-based industries, 8 December 2016 (metal industry)
AMICE, BIPAR, Insurance Europe and UNI Europa, Joint declaration on the social effects of digitalisation by the European social partners in the insurance sector, 12 October 2016 (Insurance)
EPSU and CEMR, Joint Declaration on the opportunities and challenges of digitalisation in local and regional administration, 11 December 2015 (local and regional administration)
( 1 ) Based on the European Commission EU social dialogue texts database, the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) EU Social Dialogue texts database (not yet publicly available) and own research.
The following amendments, which received at least a quarter of the votes cast, were rejected in the course of the debate (Rule 43(2) of the Rules of Procedure):
Point 1.14 (linked to 5.8)