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Knowledge base

 

See news updates, survey reports and topic reports from the network of the European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO). Among the topics covered so far are: IT: Use and training in Europe Temporary agency work in the EU Ageing and work in Europe Violence, bullying and harassment in the workplace Part-time work in Europe Browse by the four main areas at the top of the page, or select from some research highlights in recent years: Working poor Working conditions in the hotel and transport sectors Corporate social responsibility Violence and harassment in the workplace Promoting gender equality in the workplace Temporary agency work Employment / working time preferences

The Foundation's knowledge base on working conditions has been established through data collection and analysis, principally through the European Surveys on Working Conditions, 1990, 1995 and 2000.

The Third European Survey on Working Conditions 2000 reveals that problems related to health, the pace of work and working time continue to rise in European workplaces. One main conclusion of the survey is that the phenomenon of work intensification has become an established reality for EU workers over the last decade. Employees may be working somewhat shorter hours but their pace of work has increased, in certain cases markedly. One in three workers complain of backache related to their job. Nearly half complain of working in a painful/tiring position while over half are working at very high speed to tight deadlines for one quarter of their working day.

The Foundation has also developed a set of social indicators on the working environment, with the aim of assisting policy makers to formulate and evaluate policies in the field.

In addition, the Foundation has undertaken strategic research in a number of areas relating to the working conditions of the European worker, eg. temporary agency work. Links to a selection of the Foundation's strategic research projects and some of their findings are presented in the accompanying panel.