European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO)
08 March 2010:
Impact of new management practices on working conditions
(Germany / Information update)
The results of the 2008–2009 works council survey, carried out by the Institute of Economic and Social Research within the Hans Böckler Foundation, highlight the effects of various management practices on work strains in German companies. The survey findings provide a new insight into health risk management at establishment level, also highlighting that only a minority of companies are carrying out health risk assessments, albeit being prescribed by law.
08 March 2010:
Stricter sick leave rules results in insurance savings
(Hungary / Information update)
Hungary’s National Health Insurance Fund (OEP) managed to achieve a positive budget balance in 2008, according to recent findings. The savings are thought to be linked to the first stage of a health reform in early 2007, introducing stricter rules for sick leave and the supervision and review of the incapacity for work status by OEP doctors. As a result, the number of sick days taken and sick leave expenditure have shown a decline in recent years.
08 March 2010:
Spotlight on informal employment
(Romania / Information update)
In July 2008, the Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published a report on informal employment and its different forms in Romania, based on data analysis. It also looks at the characteristics of people in informal employment and the economic sectors where such employment is most prevalent. The study presents policy options and measures to deal with informal employment especially for vulnerable groups of workers.
08 March 2010:
Impact of ‘Toyota model’ in healthcare sector
(Sweden / Information update)
A recent study by Stockholm University assesses the correlation between shorter working hours and improvements in health, well-being and the level of physiological stress among workers in the healthcare sector. The study evaluates the effect of introducing a new working time model, the so-called ‘Toyota model’, and its effect on employee health and work satisfaction. It concludes that the new working time model has no significant effect on workers’ health or stress levels.
08 March 2010:
Benefits of work–life balance measures in SMEs
(Italy / Information update)
The Confederation of Italian Industry has published a report summarising a wide range of work–life balance practices in small and medium-sized enterprises. Contrary to widespread opinion among employers and their representative associations, improvement of work–life balance is not related to company size or to the company’s financial conditions but it is strongly influenced by the employer’s cultural affirmative attitude and the flexibility of labour relations.
08 March 2010:
Poor working conditions lead to risks for pregnant women
(Ireland / Information update)
Poor working conditions may increase the chances of pregnant women having underweight or premature babies, according to recent findings by researchers from University College Dublin and the French public health organisation INSERM. In particular, pregnant women who work long hours, shifts, on temporary employment contracts or in positions with high physical work demands may be at increased risk of giving birth to small or premature babies.
08 March 2010:
Companies and stress management systems
(Belgium / Information update)
A 2009 company survey by researchers from the University of Liège shows that Belgian companies still have a long way to go in developing a systematic, integrated stress management system. Time and money constraints are significant obstacles in this regard, as well as restructuring and organisational change. Strong involvement by top management and other hierarchical levels represent positive factors in developing a full system of diagnosis, action and evaluation.
08 March 2010:
Citizens voice concerns over health and safety at work in EU poll
(Slovenia / Information update)
In 2009, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work released the results of a European-wide survey on safety and health at work. According to the findings, Slovenian citizens are concerned that the economic crisis may adversely affect workplace health and safety. Although respondents feel they are well informed about health and safety at work, they believe that ill health is often caused by work and that health and safety has deteriorated in the past five years.
08 March 2010:
Women and part-time work
(Austria / Information update)
An analysis of secondary data on part-time work and women shows that part-time employment is responsible for the increase of female employment in Austria. Women working part time often have a low level of education, which is also reflected in their occupational status. Childcare and caring for elderly people is the main reason for women taking on a part-time job. Concerning income, female part-timers not only earn less an hour than women working full time, but they also earn less than men.
08 March 2010:
How Europeans assess health and safety at work
(EU Level / Information update)
Europe’s citizens are well informed about occupational health and safety, while also being concerned about the impact of the economic crisis and recession on their health and safety at work. These are the findings of a pan-European survey on safety and health at work, carried out by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. However, there is some fear that the improvements which Europeans have seen in this regard will be eroded by the economic crisis.