More than one in three employees in the European Union work under heavy strain.

Omissions

• The supporting Eurofound data comes from the 2021 European Working Conditions Telephone Survey (EWCTS), which is more than two years before the October 2026 session date; the MEP's 'studies' reference is not tied to a recent (2024-2026) measurement.
• The reported share depends heavily on the indicator: 36% of EU workers report working to tight deadlines, 33% at high speed, while overall 'high work intensity' is reported by around 4 in 10 employees — the figure is not a single uniform 'heavy strain' statistic.
• The most cited figures reflect the COVID-19 period, which may not represent current (2026) working conditions.

Sources

• PrimaryEurofound — Psychosocial risks to workers' well-being: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic'During the last stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, work organisation was characterised by high levels of work intensity for at least one in three employees, meaning they were working at high speed, to tight deadlines or in their free time.' and '...increased prevalence of high work intensity (reported by 4 in 10 employees)...'
• PrimaryEurofound — European Working Conditions Survey report (ef1634en)'Intensive work is quite prevalent in Europe: 36% of workers in the EU report working to tight deadlines while 33% [work at high speed]'