AskTheExpert: Navigating a new era of psychosocial risk in Europe
Eurofound is organising a joint webinar with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) on 3 February 2026 at 14:00-15:00 Irish time (15:00-16:00 CET) looking at latest research on psychosocial risk in workplaces across Europe, with a live Q&A.
Monday, 2 February 2026
Start
14:00
End
15:00
The debate
As the European world of work undergoes a profound digital and social transformation, the nature of workplace hazards is widening to further cover psychological issues. While traditional safety risks are still a concern, a question looms: Is work in Europe becoming more stressful?
This joint webinar brings together the latest evidence from two landmark studies: Eurofound’s 2024 European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) and EU-OSHA’s 2024 European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks(opens in new tab)This link opens in a new tab (ESENER). Moderator Mary McCaughey speaks with Agnes Parent-Thirion, Eurofound Senior Research Manager, and Xabier Irastorza, Senior Research Project Manager at EU-OSHA, about new data showing that nearly 45% of workers now face mental health risk factors.
They will also look at the role of job quality in supporting mental and physical well-being and discuss which psychosocial risks factors are most prevalent.
Rapid digitalisation and changes to the work environment have brought significant stressors, but managing risk remains fundamental. Data from the ESENER survey suggests that while 21% of establishments find psychosocial risks more difficult to manage than physical ones, many still fail to implement systematic assessments and involve workers. EWCS 24 data also indicate that 29% of workers in the EU are not adequately informed about the prevention of work-related stress.
As well as identifying the issues, the webinar will also provide an opportunity to discuss solutions, including how practical measures related to job redesign, social support, and worker participation can turn a poor environment into a resource enhancing and supportive one.
This debate will be livestreamed on Livestorm. Livestorm is the only platform where you can actively participate in discussions and ask questions to the experts. Sign up now(opens in new tab)This link opens in a new tab!
Agenda
Speakers
Agnès Parent-Thirion
Senior research managerAgnès Parent-Thirion er seniorforskningsleder i Eurofounds arbejdslivsenhed, der har til opgave at planlægge, udvikle og gennemføre forskningsprojekter om arbejdsvilkår, navnlig den europæiske undersøgelse af arbejdsvilkårene (EWCS) og analyserne heraf. Hun er ansvarlig for den ekstraordinære udgave af EWCS 2021 og for udarbejdelsen af spørgeskemaet til EWCS 2024. Hendes forskningsinteresser omfatter arbejdsforhold, jobkvalitet, overvågning af arbejdsvilkår, arbejdstilrettelæggelse, køn, fremtidens arbejde og tid. Hun har arbejdet inden for europæiske sammenlignende undersøgelser i mere end et årti inden for alle aspekter, herunder design, udvikling af spørgeskemaer, feltarbejde, kvalitetskontrol og analyse. Hun er uddannet i økonomi og ledelse fra Paris IX Dauphine og Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne universiteter og har en postgraduate diplom i statistik fra Trinity College Dublin. Hun har for nylig gennemført onlinekurser om kunstig intelligens: undersøgelsesdrevet ledelse med MIT Sloan Executive Education og 'Les grand enjeux de la transition: re-ouvrir l'horizon, comprendre pour agir' med Campus de la Transition. Før hun kom til Eurofound, arbejdede hun i en årrække i Europa-Kommissionen.
Mary McCaughey
Head of UnitMary McCaughey er informations- og kommunikationschef i Eurofound. Hun er uddannet fra Trinity College i Dublin og College of Europe i Brügge og begyndte at arbejde i Bruxelles med Europolitics og Wall Street Journal Europe. Hun arbejdede for Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) i Sydafrika under landets overgang til demokrati, og i 1998 tiltrådte hun stillingen som talsmand for Den Europæiske Unions delegation i Pretoria, hvor hun ledede dens presse- og informationsafdeling under forhandlingerne om frihandelsaftalen mellem EU og Sydafrika. Efter afslutningen af Kosovo-krigen arbejdede hun som kommunikationskonsulent for Det Europæiske Genopbygningsagentur i Serbien. Hun tiltrådte stillingen som chefredaktør i Eurofound i 2003.
Series: Ask The Expert webinars
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