Addressing Remote Work Challenges in Türkiye: A New Paradigm for Workplace Safety

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical gaps in Türkiye’s Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) framework, particularly for remote work. This study identifies the urgent need to redefine core concepts like the “workplace” and “work accident,” focusing on protecting remote workers while addressing broader OSH considerations. Through a comparative analysis of Germany, France, and the UK, the research highlights priority areas such as ergonomic risks, mental health challenges, and home-based commuting accidents, alongside the integration of remote work into legal definitions. Recommendations include secondary regulations clarifying employer and employee responsibilities, tailored to Türkiye’s socio-economic context. By bridging European practices with local needs, the study emphasizes legal clarity, equitable resource access, and mental health inclusion in OSH policies, contributing to global OSH advancements and adaptive worker well-being strategies in remote work settings.