Participation at work
Overview
Participation, in one or other form, has been a key focus of Eurofound's work programmes. Initially, it examined the extent of direct or employee participation and its role in the modernisation of the work organisation. More recently, Eurofound has explored the issue of financial participation, specifically regarding the extent to which national organisations and institutions influence aspects of financial participation, and the impact of financial participation on employee relations and human resource management policies.
A recent report based on the ECS 2009 and other data sources looks at factors that influence the path social dialogue takes in a company, in particular regarding works councils and trade unions; company size, company age, the nature of the product or service delivered, employer choices and the composition of the workforce are all relevant factors.
In 2006, Eurofound completed an assessment of the internal operations of the European Works Councils (EWCs). Work on EWCs originated in 1994, when Eurofound agreed to support the European social partners by collecting, analysing, publishing and disseminating agreements signed under Articles 6 and 13 of Directive 94/45/EC.
Sources
- European Company Survey (ECS) 2009
The second iteration of the survey has a strong focus on workplace social dialogue and financial participation - European Works Councils case studies
- Case studies: Attractive workplaces - Innovative company strategies for growth and jobs
Companies have succeeded in making work attractive by means of financial incentives and improving earnings potential - Direct participation
Key findings from a six year investigation, which charted developments in the changing world of work, particularly in the area of work organisation - EPOC survey
Results of a Foundation survey on European management, which examined the extent of direct participation
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