EU Sources - Work-life balance continues to be an issue - January 31, 2026

Findings from the 2025 (eighth) round of Eurofound’s Living and working in the EU e-survey suggest persistent economic strain and uneven levels of resilience across Member States. Despite lower inflation and labour markets that remain relatively stable by headline indicators, respondents continue to face significant financial pressure, with widening gaps between income groups. Among employees, work–life balance continues to be an issue, particularly for those whose preferences for remote working do not match their actual arrangements. Preferences for regular telework have increased, with around half of men and women wishing to work from home several times a week. Respondents who would like to telework but cannot report the highest levels of fatigue and work‒family conflict.

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For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org. For previous full issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit https://www.etui.org/Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter or consult the archive with all articles in our database at www.cbnarchive.eu. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org.