AskTheExpert: Navigating a new era of psychosocial risk in Europe
14:00 – 15:00 Am áitiúil in Éirinn
Eurofound organised 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.
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 brought 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 Risksopens in new tab (ESENER). Moderator Mary McCaughey spoke 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 also looked at the role of job quality in supporting mental and physical well-being and discussed 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 also provided 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.
Watch the recording
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Speakers
Agnès Parent-Thirion
Senior research managerIs bainisteoir taighde sinsearach í Agnès Parent-Thirion in aonad an tSaoil Oibre ag Eurofound, a bhfuil sé de chúram uirthi tionscadail taighde ar choinníollacha oibre a phleanáil, a fhorbairt agus a chur i bhfeidhm, go háirithe an Suirbhé Eorpach ar Dhálaí Oibre (EWCS) agus a chuid anailísí. Tá sí freagrach as eagrán urghnách EWCS 2021 agus as ullmhú an cheistneora do EWCS 2024. I measc a cuid spéiseanna taighde tá coinníollacha oibre, cáilíocht an phoist, monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar choinníollacha oibre, eagrú oibre, inscne, todhchaí na hoibre agus ama. Tá sí ag obair i réimse na suirbhéanna comparáideacha Eorpacha le breis agus deich mbliana, i ngach gné lena n-áirítear dearadh, forbairt ceistneoirí, obair allamuigh, rialú cáilíochta agus anailís. Is céimí í san eacnamaíocht agus sa bhainistíocht ó ollscoileanna Paris IX, Dauphine agus Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne agus tá Dioplóma Iarchéime sa Staitisticí aici ó Choláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath. Chríochnaigh sí cúrsaí ar líne ar intleacht shaorga le déanaí: ceannaireacht fiosrúcháin-tiomáinte le MIT Sloan Executive Education agus 'Les grand enjeux de la transition: re-ouvrir l'horizon, comprendre pour agir' leis an Campus de la Transition. Sula ndeachaigh sí isteach i Eurofound, d'oibrigh sí ar feadh roinnt blianta sa Choimisiún Eorpach.
Mary McCaughey
Head of Information & CommunicationTá Mary McCaughey ina Ceannasaí Faisnéise agus Cumarsáide in Eurofound. Céimí de chuid Choláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath agus Coláiste na hEorpa, Bruges, thosaigh sí ag obair sa Bhruiséil le Europolitics agus leis an Wall Street Journal Europe. D'oibrigh sí le Cumann na bParlaiminteoirí Eorpacha leis an Afraic (AWEPA) san Afraic Theas le linn aistriú na tíre chuig an daonlathas, agus i 1998 ghlac sí le post urlabhraí le Toscaireacht an Aontais Eorpaigh i Pretoria, agus í i gceannas ar a rannóg preasa agus faisnéise le linn chaibidlíocht an chomhaontaithe saorthrádála idir an tAontas Eorpach agus an Afraic Theas. Tar éis dheireadh Chogadh na Cosaive, d'oibrigh sí mar chomhairleoir cumarsáide don Ghníomhaireacht Eorpach um Atógáil sa tSeirbia. Chuaigh sí i mbun oibre mar Phríomh-Eagarthóir in Eurofound in 2003.
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