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.
Tuesday, 3 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 je vedúcou výskumnou manažérkou v oddelení pracovného života nadácie Eurofound, ktorej úlohou je plánovanie, vývoj a realizácia výskumných projektov pracovných podmienok, najmä Európskeho prieskumu pracovných podmienok (EWCS) a jeho analýz. Je zodpovedná za mimoriadne vydanie EWCS 2021 a za prípravu dotazníka pre EWCS 2024. Medzi jej výskumné záujmy patria pracovné podmienky, kvalita pracovných miest, monitorovanie pracovných podmienok, organizácia práce, pohlavie, budúcnosť práce a času. Už viac ako desať rokov pracuje v oblasti európskych porovnávacích prieskumov vo všetkých aspektoch vrátane dizajnu, vývoja dotazníkov, práce v teréne, kontroly kvality a analýzy. Je absolventkou ekonómie a manažmentu na univerzitách Paris IX Dauphine a Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne a je držiteľkou postgraduálneho diplomu v odbore štatistika na Trinity College v Dubline. Nedávno absolvovala online kurzy o umelej inteligencii: vedenie riadené výskumom s MIT Sloan Executive Education a "Les grand enjeux de la transition: re-ouvrir l'horizon, comprendre pour agir" s Campus de la Transition. Pred nástupom do nadácie Eurofound pracovala niekoľko rokov v Európskej komisii.
Mary McCaughey
Head of Information & CommunicationMary McCaughey je vedúcou oddelenia informácií a komunikácie v nadácii Eurofound. Absolventka Trinity College v Dubline a College of Europe v Bruggách začala pracovať v Bruseli pre Europolitics a Wall Street Journal Europe. Počas prechodu krajiny k demokracii spolupracovala so Združením poslancov Európskeho parlamentu s Afrikou (AWEPA) v Južnej Afrike a v roku 1998 nastúpila na post hovorkyne delegácie Európskej únie v Pretórii, kde viedla jej tlačové a informačné oddelenie počas rokovaní o dohode o voľnom obchode medzi EÚ a Južnou Afrikou. Po skončení vojny v Kosove pracovala ako komunikačná konzultantka pre Európsku agentúru pre obnovu v Srbsku. V roku 2003 nastúpila na post šéfredaktorky nadácie Eurofound.
Series: Ask The Expert webinars
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