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 hija maniġer anzjan tar-riċerka fl-unità tal-Ħajja tax-Xogħol fil-Eurofound, inkarigata mill-ippjanar, l-iżvilupp u l-implimentazzjoni ta' proġetti ta' riċerka dwar il-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, b'mod partikolari l-Istħarriġ Ewropew dwar il-Kundizzjonijiet tax-Xogħol (EWCS) u l-analiżi tiegħu. Hija responsabbli għall-edizzjoni straordinarja tal-EWCS 2021 u għat-tħejjija tal-kwestjonarju għall-EWCS 2024. L-interessi tar-riċerka tagħha jinkludu l-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, il-kwalità tax-xogħol, il-monitoraġġ tal-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, l-organizzazzjoni tax-xogħol, is-sess, il-futur tax-xogħol u l-ħin. Hija ilha taħdem fil-qasam tal-istħarriġ komparattiv Ewropew għal aktar minn għaxar snin, fl-aspetti kollha inklużi d-disinn, l-iżvilupp tal-kwestjonarju, ix-xogħol fuq il-post, il-kontroll tal-kwalità u l-analiżi. Hija gradwata fl-ekonomija u l-ġestjoni mill-universitajiet Paris IX Dauphine u Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne u għandha Diploma Postgraduate fl-Istatistika mit-Trinity College Dublin. Dan l-aħħar temmet korsijiet onlajn dwar l-intelliġenza artifiċjali: tmexxija mmexxija mill-inkjesta mal-MIT Sloan Executive Education u 'Les grand enjeux de la transition: re-ouvrir l'orizzont, comprendre pour agir' mal-Campus de la Transition. Qabel ma ngħaqdet mal-Eurofound, hija ħadmet għal numru ta' snin fil-Kummissjoni Ewropea.
Mary McCaughey
Head of UnitMary McCaughey hija l-Kap tal-Informazzjoni u l-Komunikazzjoni fil-Eurofound. Gradwata mit-Trinity College, Dublin u l-Kulleġġ tal-Ewropa, Bruges, bdiet taħdem fi Brussell mal-Europolitics u l-Wall Street Journal Europe. Hija ħadmet mal-Assoċjazzjoni tal-Parlamentari Ewropej mal-Afrika (AWEPA) fl-Afrika t'Isfel matul it-tranżizzjoni tal-pajjiż lejn id-demokrazija, u fl-1998 ħadet il-kariga ta' kelliem mad-Delegazzjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropea fi Pretoria, fejn tmexxi d-dipartiment tal-istampa u l-informazzjoni tagħha matul in-negozjati tal-ftehim ta' kummerċ ħieles bejn l-UE u l-Afrika t'Isfel. Wara t-tmiem tal-Gwerra tal-Kosovo, hija ħadmet bħala konsulent tal-komunikazzjoni għall-Aġenzija Ewropea għar-Rikostruzzjoni fis-Serbja. Hija bdiet il-kariga ta' Kap Editur fil-Eurofound fl-2003.
Series: Ask The Expert webinars
Join our interactive Ask the Expert webinars, where Eurofound researchers present our latest findings and answer your questions in real time. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with the people behind the research.
