The effects of burnout on workers can be severe; without detection and proper treatment burnout symptoms can last several years – impacting not just the health of individual workers, but also business success and broader economic performance. However, a lack of clear definition and understanding of burnout has resulted in a disparate and fragmented policy response at national level, with those affected experiencing varying levels of support in different parts of Europe.

Background

This overview report summarises the findings of 20 case studies looking at recent changes in the task content of five manufacturing occupations (car assemblers, meat processing workers, hand-packers, chemical products plant and machine operators and inspection engineers) as a result of factors such as digital transformations, globalisation and offshoring, increasing demand for high quality standards and sustainability. It also discusses some implications in terms of job quality and working life. Overall, the report highlights how qualitative contextual information can complement existing quantitative data, offering a richer understanding of changes in the content and nature of jobs.

Established in 2014, the European Observatory of Working Life (EurWORK) brings together Eurofound’s long-established observatories on industrial relations (EIRO) and working conditions (EWCO).

Role

EurWORK encompasses all of Eurofound's resources on working conditions and sustainable work and on industrial relations. It is supported by a Network of Eurofound Correspondents across all EU Member States and Norway which regularly reports on national working life developments. A further source of information is provided by Eurofound’s two regular surveys on working life issues: the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) and the European Company Survey (ECS) .