Working life research

Christine Aumayr-Pintar

Senior research manager

Christine Aumayr-Pintar viša je voditeljica istraživanja u odjelu za radni život u Eurofoundu. Koordinira Eurofoundova istraživanja o socijalnom dijalogu i industrijskim odnosima te nadzire Mrežu Eurofoundovih dopisnika (NEC). Njezina primarna istraživačka stručnost, kojoj se pristupa s komparativnog stajališta na razini EU-a, usredotočena je na minimalne plaće, kolektivno dogovorene plaće i transparentnost plaća između spolova. Prije nego što se pridružila Eurofoundu 2009. godine, bila je istraživačica tržišta rada i regionalne ekonomije u Joanneum Researchu u Austriji. Magistrirala je ekonomiju i doktorirala društvene znanosti/ekonomiju studirajući ekonomiju u Grazu, Beču i Jönköpingu.

Područja stručnosti

Christine je stručnjak u sljedećim područjima.

Rezultati istraživanja

Christine je autor sljedećih publikacija.

Događanja, komentari i analiza

Christine je doprinio sljedećim događanjima, blog-objavama i epizodama podcasta.

10 January 2024

Epizoda podcasta

Are minimum wages in Europe adequate and effective?

The latest episode of Eurofound Talks, recorded shortly before Eurofound publishes its harmonised analysis of 2024 minimum wage developments, looks at the changes to minimum wages in 2023. Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound experts Christine Aumayr-Pintar and Carlos Vacas-Soriano about the adequacy of minimum wages in Europe as they stand at the moment, how the EU has sought to improve the situation of low-wage earners through a Directive on adequate minimum wages, and how widespread the issue of minimum wage non-compliance is in the European Union.

15 June 2022

Blog-objava

How to ensure adequate minimum wages in an age of inflation

Minimum wages have risen significantly in 2022, as the EU Member States leave behind the cautious mood of the pandemic. However, rising inflation is eating up these wage increases, and only flexibility in the regular minimum wage setting processes may avoid generalised losses in purchasing power among minimum wage earners. On 6 June 2022, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached a political agreement on the Directive on adequate minimum wages proposed by the Commission in October 2020. Once formally approved, EU Member States will have to transpose it into national law within two years.

9 June 2022

Epizoda podcasta

Minimum wages

Minimum wages and minimum wage setting processes are not just issues of high political importance in Europe, but also everyday concerns for low-wage earners throughout the EU. In this episode of Eurofound Talks we speak with Senior Research Manager Christine Aumayr-Pintar on the importance of minimum wages in the EU, different processes in place, the latest EU developments in ensuring adequate minimum wages, and the growing issue of inflation for low-wage earners.

18 June 2021

Blog-objava

Gender pay transparency: Advancing the cause through a truly European proposal

With its proposed directive on gender pay transparency, the European Commission has significantly bolstered the set of tools for delivering its objectives compared to those presented in its 2014 Recommendation. The proposed portfolio of measures addresses many shortcomings of the instruments that national authorities currently employ. And while some issues will still require clarification, further reflection or debate during the negotiations, the proposal is a truly European one: it draws on good practice from the policies of different countries rather than taking the approach of just one as a blueprint.

8 June 2021

Blog-objava

Minimum wages rise again, but the pandemic puts a brake on their growth

Decision-makers approached minimum wage setting for 2021 cautiously due to the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Despite this, nominal statutory minimum wages rose in most Member States and the UK, although at lower rates than in recent years.

6 November 2020

Blog-objava

Are simple statistics enough? On the benefits of gender pay reports and audits

Following a sluggish response by many Member States to introduce or modify gender pay transparency measures, as it recommended in 2014, the European Commission intends to table a proposal for EU-level legislation on pay transparency later in 2020. In this context, a new Eurofound study investigated whether key people at company level see these measures as useful or beneficial. The results show that the richer pay audits are favoured over the simpler pay reports in terms of their perceived usefulness. Both managers and employee representatives agree on this.

28 October 2020

Blog-objava

New impetus to collective bargaining: Insights from the ECS

In the context of the ongoing trend of a fall in collective bargaining coverage, and recent calls at EU level to promote collective bargaining coverage as an instrument to support fair and decent wages, new data from Eurofound’s fourth European Company Survey (ECS) show that two-thirds of workers (in private sector establishments with more than 10 employees in the EU) are estimated to have their wages set via a collective wage agreement.

15 January 2020

Blog-objava

Fears and hopes around future minimum wages

As one of their ‘100 days in office’ initiatives, the new European Commission intends to propose an initiative for an EU minimum wage. The aim is that by 2024 every worker in the EU should earn a fair and adequate wage, no matter where they live.

17 April 2019

Blog-objava

Seniority entitlements: A policy of the past, or a fix for the future?

Seniority entitlements have largely been on the decline since the 1990s, and have been gradually phased-out from legislation in Europe, as well as in collective agreements. However, it would be premature to dismiss seniority-based entitlements as a thing of the past, as they remain in force across Europe, even if the more expansive term of ‘relevant experience’ is preferred. As we look to the future, we ask whether seniority-based entitlements have a renewed role in a European labour market challenged by demographic ageing and a need to keep people working for longer, or whether they are a relic of the past that contribute to inter-generational inequity, under-performance, and lower employment prospects of older workers.

4 February 2019

Blog-objava

Slow start for gender pay transparency in Germany

One year after Germany’s introduction of the Entgelttransparenzgesetz (Wage Transparency Act), the results are somewhat underwhelming. This law is Germany’s take on the European Commission’s recommendation on introducing pay transparency measures to combat the gender pay gap.

11 October 2018

Blog-objava

Progress in paternity and parental leave for fathers – Are baby steps enough?

Few events challenge the equilibrium between work and life like the arrival of a child. As gender roles continue to change in Europe, supporting the uptake of paternity and parental leave among fathers is fundamental, not just to close the ‘caring gap’ between men and women, but also to provide the best possible outlook for coming generations.

28 February 2018

Blog-objava

Ten points about pay transparency in Europe’s companies

Measures to promote gender pay transparency haven’t been delivered yet in half of Europe – making EU level legislative action to speed up implementation an option. In this blog, originally posted in Social Europe, Christine Aumayr-Pintar details what we know about the measures from countries that have been early adopters.

3 November 2017

Blog-objava

Pay inequalities come back into focus in post-crisis Europe

The ability to make ends meet is a vital issue for many Europeans and an important priority for European policymakers. In the immediate aftermath of the 2008 economic crisis the initial focus was to mitigate and reverse job loss, particularly in the countries most affected. With employment back to pre-crisis levels and unemployment on the decline, attention is turning to income inequality, and in particular pay inequality; an issue with ramifications beyond the labour market, and one which may well prove as intractable as the issue of unemployment in the previous decade.

Other members of the Working life research unit

Find more staff members of the Working life research unit below.

Felix Appler

Research support officer
Working life research

Felix Appler službenik je za potporu istraživanju u odjelu za radni život u Eurofoundu. Njegov se rad fokusira na industrijske odnose, minimalne plaće i izgradnju baza podataka povezanih s tim temama. Prije toga radio je u Saveznom statističkom uredu Njemačke (Destatis) i Svjetskoj banci u istočnoj Africi provodeći ankete o kućanstvima i istraživanja o tržištima rada i siromaštvu. Felix je magistrirao ekonomiju na Sveučilištu u Bonnu.

Angelina Atanasova

Research support officer
Working life research

Angelina Atanasova službenica je za potporu istraživanju u odjelu za radni život pri Eurofoundu. Njezine trenutne istraživačke teme uključuju socijalni dijalog i industrijske odnose, kao i prava osoba s invaliditetom. Prije nego što se pridružila Eurofoundu 2024., radila je kao viša analitičarka politika u Fondu za primijenjena istraživanja i komunikacije, istraživačica u Europskom socijalnom opservatoriju, znanstvena suradnica na KU Leuven i savjetnica za politike u Institutu za europsku politiku Otvoreno društvo. Doktorirala je pravo EU-a na KU Leuven i magistrirala javnu politiku na Srednjoeuropskom sveučilištu. Njezina glavna istraživačka područja interesa uključuju prava osoba s invaliditetom, ravnopravnost spolova i socijalnu uključenost.

Elena Biaggi

Temporary research support officer
Working life research

Elena Biaggi is a temporary research support officer in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. Having completed a traineeship at Eurofound working on digitalisation in SMEs, her current role focuses on working time reduction. Her main research interests include digitalisation and work, how the world of work is changing and how this change impacts working conditions and job quality. Elena has a Master’s degree in Global Politics and Society from the University of Milan.

Jorge Cabrita

Senior research manager
Working life research

Jorge Cabrita is a senior research manager in the Working Life unit. He is responsible for formulating, coordinating and managing European-wide research, and promoting the dissemination of findings in the areas of working conditions and industrial relations. His main research areas of interest include working conditions and job quality, working time and work–life balance, workers’ health and well-being, gender equality and the socioeconomic impacts of the transition to a climate-neutral economy. He is currently leading research on working time developments and on social dialogue and collective bargaining during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, he worked as a researcher at the Centre for Studies for Social Intervention and at the Research Centre on the Portuguese Economy of the Lisbon School of Economics, and as a trainer and consultant in the areas of strategic management, organisational communication, leadership and team building. He holds a BSc in Economics and an MSc in Socio-Organisational Systems of Economic Activity from the Lisbon School of Economics.

Daphné Chédorge-Farnier

Temporary research support officer
Working life research

Daphné Chédorge-Farnier is a temporary research support officer in the Working Life unit at Eurofound. She contributes to the preparation of the follow-up survey to the European Working Conditions Survey 2024 and is involved in research on working time reduction. Prior to this, she worked as a survey trainee in the Social Policies unit. Before joining Eurofound, Daphné worked as a research officer specialising in working conditions and social policy at the Direction générale de l'administration de la fonction publique (DGAFP) in Paris. She holds a Master’s degree in Sociology from Sorbonne University.

Victoria Cojocariu

Research officer
Working life research

Victoria Cojocariu znanstvena je službenica za studije reprezentativnosti u odjelu za radni život pri Eurofoundu. Odgovorna je za upravljanje istraživačkim podacima Eurofoundovih nacionalnih korespondenta, kontrolu kvalitete te doprinos izradi preglednih izvješća za sektorske studije reprezentativnosti i prikupljanje podataka za europsku bazu podataka socijalnih partnera. Prije nego što se pridružila Eurofoundu 2019., Victoria je radila kao koordinatorica programa za Zakladu otvoreno društvo u Rumunjskoj i kao istraživačica u Centru za javne inovacije u Bukureštu, pridonoseći nacionalnim i međunarodnim istraživačkim projektima u području migracija, obrazovanja, pristupa tržištu rada državljana trećih zemalja te ljudskih prava. Diplomirala je i magistrirala sociologiju.

Franz Ferdinand Eiffe

Research manager
Working life research

Franz Eiffe voditelj je istraživanja u odjelu za radni život u Eurofoundu. Uključen je u projekte održivog rada, kvantitativne analize i uzlaznu konvergenciju u EU, kao i u pripremu četvrtog Europskog istraživanja poduzeća. Prije nego što se pridružio Eurofoundu 2016., bio je voditelj odjela za analizu u Austrijskom statističkom uredu u Beču i voditelj projekta "Kako je Austrija? Mjerenje bogatstva i napretka iznad BDP-a". Doktorirao je ekonomiju na Ekonomskom sveučilištu u Beču (WU), gdje je također radio kao znanstveni suradnik od 2005. do 2009. i predavač do 2016. godine.

Barbara Gerstenberger

​Head of Unit
Working life research

Barbara Gerstenberger voditeljica je odjela za radni život u Eurofoundu. U toj ulozi koordinira istraživačke timove koji istražuju kvalitetu radnih mjesta u Europi na temelju Europskog istraživanja o radnim uvjetima te je općenito odgovorna za Europski opservatorij za radni život i istraživanje industrijskih odnosa u EU-u. Pridružila se Eurofoundu 2001. kao voditeljica istraživanja u tada novoosnovanom Europskom centru za praćenje promjena (EMCC). Godine 2007. prešla je u Eurofoundov odjel za informacije i komunikacije kao voditeljica komunikacijskih proizvoda, a 2011. imenovana je koordinatoricom u Upravi. Prije toga radila je kao viša znanstvena službenica u Europskoj federaciji metalaca u Bruxellesu. Diplomirala je političke znanosti na Sveučilištu u Hamburgu, a magistrirala je javnu upravu na Kennedy School of Government, Sveučilište Harvard.

Manuel Gómez Martín

Administrative assistant
Working life research

Manuel Gómez Martín administrativni je pomoćnik u jedinici za radni vijek. Uglavnom je uključen u područje industrijskih odnosa, a posebno organizira nabavu i sastanke u okviru povezanih projekata. Prethodno je radio za GU JRC u Europskoj komisiji te za privatna poduzeća u Londonu i Španjolskoj.

Peter Kerckhofs

Senior research manager
Working life research

Peter Kerckhofs viši je voditelj istraživanja u odjelu za radni vijek u Eurofoundu. Njegov je rad usmjeren na ulogu socijalnih partnera u europskom semestru, kao i na nacionalno izvješćivanje o razvoju industrijskih odnosa. Peter ima široku stručnost u razvoju metodologije za studije reprezentativnosti, primjeni europskih i nacionalnih kriterija reprezentativnosti u specifičnom kontekstu različitih sektora, a istovremeno akumulira dubinsko znanje o industrijskim odnosima u različitim sektorima. Peter je također radio na projektima povezanima s europskim radničkim vijećima i europskim sektorskim socijalnim dijalogom. Prije nego što se pridružio Eurofoundu, radio je kao istraživač za ETUI i UCL, kao politički tajnik za EMCEF i bio je znanstveni koordinator Doktorskog fakulteta Fakulteta društvenih znanosti KU Leuven. Diplomirao je socijalni rad i magistrirao političke znanosti na KU Leuvenu i međunarodne odnose na UCL-u, a doktorirao je industrijske odnose na Sveučilištu u Manchesteru.

Sophia MacGoris

Surveys officer
Working life research

Sophia MacGoris službenica je za ankete u odjelu za radni život pri Eurofoundu. Radi na sva tri Eurofoundova istraživanja. Budući da je dugi niz godina uključena u međunacionalna istraživanja, koristi svoje iskustvo i svoju transverzalnu ulogu kako bi osigurala kontinuitet učenja i osiguravanje kvalitete na najvišoj razini tijekom cijelog procesa istraživanja. Prije nego što se 1996. pridružila Eurofoundu, nekoliko je godina radila u Europskoj komisiji u Bruxellesu u području znanosti, istraživanja i razvoja. Diplomirala je društvene znanosti sa specijalizacijom za socijalnu politiku.

Pietro Malacalza

Research assistant
Working life research

Pietro Malacalza znanstveni je asistent u odjelu za radni vijek u Eurofoundu, a prethodno je radio u operativnoj potpori. Njegov rad uključuje potporu Mreži dopisnika Eurofounda, uključujući kontrolu kvalitete, sažimanje nacionalnih doprinosa za istraživačka izvješća i baze podataka, praćenje pojedinačnih rezultata i kodiranje informacija u kvalitativnom istraživačkom softveru. Prije nego što se pridružio Eurofoundu, radio je kao savjetnik za upravljanje projektima u Zajedničkom istraživačkom centru Europske komisije (JRC), a radio je i na različitim ulogama u IT-u, zrakoplovnoj i prehrambenoj industriji. Diplomirao je političke znanosti na Sveučilištu u Milanu i certifikat Project Management Professional (PMP).

Agnès Parent-Thirion

Senior research manager
Working life research

Agnès Parent-Thirion viša je voditeljica istraživanja u odjelu za radni život u Eurofoundu, zadužena za planiranje, razvoj i provedbu istraživačkih projekata o radnim uvjetima, posebno Europskog istraživanja o radnim uvjetima (EWCS) i njegovih analiza. Odgovorna je za izvanredno izdanje EWCS-a 2021. i za pripremu upitnika za EWCS 2024. Njezini istraživački interesi uključuju radne uvjete, kvalitetu radnih mjesta, praćenje radnih uvjeta, organizaciju rada, spol, budućnost rada i vrijeme. Već više od desetljeća radi u području europskih komparativnih istraživanja, u svim aspektima uključujući dizajn, izradu upitnika, terenski rad, kontrolu kvalitete i analizu. Diplomirala je ekonomiju i menadžment na sveučilištima Paris IX Dauphine i Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne te je stekla poslijediplomski studij statistike na Trinity Collegeu u Dublinu. Nedavno je završila online tečajeve o umjetnoj inteligenciji: vodstvo vođeno istraživanjem s MIT Sloan Executive Education i 'Les grand enjeux de la transition: re-ouvrir l'horizon, comprendre pour agir' s Campus de la Transition. Prije nego što se pridružila Eurofoundu, nekoliko je godina radila u Europskoj komisiji.

Sara Riso

Senior research manager
Working life research

Sara Riso joined Eurofound in 2006 and is currently a senior research manager in the Working Life unit. She is engaged in research projects focusing on digitalisation and working conditions. Before joining Eurofound, Sara managed research projects for large Brussels-based European associations and networks. Her academic background is in psychology, communication and languages. Her main research interest lies in exploring new workplace stressors arising from increased digitalisation of work, evolving organisational practices, and change management strategies to address the challenges posed by digitalisation in modern working environments.

Mária Sedláková

Research officer
Working life research

Mária Sedláková znanstvena je službenica u odjelu za radni život pri Eurofoundu. Odgovorna je za izradu preglednih izvješća za sektorske studije reprezentativnosti, upravljanje i kontrolu kvalitete nacionalnog izvješćivanja o industrijskim odnosima, socijalnom dijalogu i radnom životu te razvoj projekta o kolektivnom pregovaranju izvan plaće. Prije nego što se pridružila Eurofoundu, radila je kao službenica za tehnička istraživanja u Odjelu za upravljanje i tripartizam u Međunarodnoj organizaciji rada u Ženevi na vodećem izvješću o socijalnom dijalogu za 2022. Također je radila kao istraživačica na Srednjoeuropskom institutu za studije rada u Bratislavi (2013. – 2020.), fokusirajući se na socijalni dijalog, kolektivno pregovaranje, radne uvjete i sociologiju rada. Maria je magistrirala političke znanosti sa specijalizacijom iz komparativne europske politike na Srednjoeuropskom sveučilištu.

Oscar Vargas Llave

Senior research manager
Working life research

Oscar Vargas Llave is a senior research manager in the Working Life unit at Eurofound and manages projects on changes in the world of work and the impact on working conditions and related policies: organisation of working time, remote work, the right to disconnect, health and well-being and ageing. Before joining Eurofound in December 2009, he worked as project coordinator in the field of health and safety and was responsible for the Professional Card Scheme for the Construction Sector in Spain at the non-profit Fundación Laboral de la Construcción in Madrid. He has a background in industrial sociology (Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca), and also holds a Diploma in Social Science Research Methods from the University of Cardiff and a Master’s degree in Health and Safety from the Autonomous University of Madrid.

Tina Weber

Senior research manager
Working life research

Tina Weber is a senior research manager in Eurofound’s Working Life unit. Her work has focused on labour shortages, the impact of hybrid work and an ‘always on’ culture and the right to disconnect, working conditions and social protection measures for self-employed workers and the impact of the twin transitions on employment, working conditions and industrial relations. She is responsible for studies assessing the representativeness of European social partner organisations. She has also carried out research on European Works Councils and the evolution of industrial relations and social dialogue in the European Union. Prior to joining Eurofound in 2019, she worked for a private research institute primarily carrying out impact assessments and evaluations of EU labour law and labour market policies. Tina holds a PhD in Political Sciences from the University of Edinburgh which focussed on the role of national trade unions and employers’ organisations in the European social dialogue.

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