Working life research

Oscar Vargas Llave

Senior research manager

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.

Področja strokovnega znanja

Oscar je strokovnjak za naslednje teme.

Raziskovalni rezultati

Oscar je avtor naslednjih publikacij.

Dogodki, komentarji in analize

Oscar je prispeval k naslednjim dogodkom, blogovskim prispevkom in epizodam podkastov.

2 December 2022

Epizoda podkasta

Telework

Now that Europe moves beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, it is faced with a dilemma. Telework has worked well for many over the past few years, helped them reconcile work and family life, and brought greater autonomy and flexibility; but for others almost the opposite has been the case, with greater work intensification, longer working hours, and greater exposure to psychosocial risks. Is it time to get back to the office? Is telework here to stay? Is hybrid work the solution? In this episode of Eurofound Talks Oscar Vargas and Mary McCaughey use results from the Living, working and COVID-19 online surveys, the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey, and other analyses from Eurofound to investigate what the future holds for telework in Europe, whether the mass rollout of telework has been to the benefit of workers and businesses, and whether the teleworkability of jobs will become the key issue on the labour market in years to come.

13 July 2022

Blogovski prispevek

Do we really have the right to disconnect?

Telework has become a permanent feature of working life in Europe. While we’ve seen the benefits of more flexible ways of working – particularly during the pandemic – the problems that arise from an increasingly connected life are also becoming clearer. Unfortunately, legislation alone may not be enough to ensure our right to disconnect.

3 December 2020

Blogovski prispevek

Does the new telework generation need a right to disconnect?

Whatever the benefits of telework – and there are many, including more flexible working time, increased productivity and less commuting – there are drawbacks, as many of the one-third of Europeans who were exclusively working from home during the pandemic will attest. Primary among these is the ‘always on’ culture that telework engenders, encouraging workers to respond to emails, phone calls and texts from work long after the working day or week has ended. This situation may be aggravated if the organisational culture at work incentivises employees to accept heavy workloads and put in overtime, often unpaid. All of which upsets work–life balance, leading to conflicts between work and home life, insufficient rest and health problems like work-related stress and sleep disorders.

9 June 2020

Blogovski prispevek

COVID-19 unleashed the potential for telework – How are workers coping?

The COVID-19 health crisis prompted governments to take the unprecedented step of shutting down all workplaces, apart from those providing essential goods and services, to control the spread of the virus. Every worker who was able to do so began to work from home, initiating a social experiment of a type and on a scale unseen before. The world of work will never be the same again. This event has accelerated the transition from a regular, bureaucratic and ‘factory-based’ organisation of work to one based on flexible task allocation and management by objectives. While these new-minted teleworkers are certainly better off than those who have lost their job or are at risk of losing it, there are downsides to the experience too.

14 May 2019

Blogovski prispevek

ICT-enabled flexible working – All plain sailing?

Imagine you’re at work and something happens: you have to leave to visit a client, you have to go home to let in the plumber, or you have to collect the kids from school as the football training has just been cancelled. If you’re lucky, your employer gives you the flexibility to do this. If you’re even luckier, it is YOU who decides upon your schedule and place of work.

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 je uradnik za podporo raziskavam v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. Njegovo delo se osredotoča na industrijske odnose, minimalne plače in gradnjo podatkovnih baz, povezanih s temi temami. Pred tem je delal v Zveznem statističnem uradu Nemčije (Destatis) in Svetovni banki v vzhodni Afriki, kjer je izvajal raziskave o gospodinjstvih in raziskavah o trgih dela in revščini. Felix je magistriral iz ekonomije na Univerzi v Bonnu.

Angelina Atanasova

Research support officer
Working life research

Angelina Atanasova je uradnica za podporo raziskavam v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. Njene trenutne raziskovalne teme vključujejo socialni dialog in odnose med delodajalci in delojemalci ter pravice invalidov. Preden se je leta 2024 pridružila Eurofoundu, je delala kot višja politična analitičarka v Skladu za uporabne raziskave in komunikacije, raziskovalka na Evropskem socialnem observatoriju, raziskovalka na KU Leuven in svetovalka za politike na Inštitutu za evropsko politiko Open Society. Doktorirala je iz prava EU na KU Leuven in magistrirala iz javne politike na Srednjeevropski univerzi. Njena glavna raziskovalna področja so pravice invalidov, enakost spolov in socialna vključenost.

Christine Aumayr-Pintar

Senior research manager
Working life research

Christine Aumayr-Pintar je višja vodja raziskav v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. Usklajuje Eurofoundove raziskave o socialnem dialogu in odnosih med delodajalci in delojemalci ter nadzira mrežo Eurofoundovih dopisnikov (NEC). Njeno primarno raziskovalno strokovno znanje – pristop s primerjalnega vseevropskega vidika – se osredotoča na minimalne plače, kolektivno dogovorjene plače in preglednost plač med spoloma. Preden se je leta 2009 pridružila Eurofoundu, je bila raziskovalka na področju trgov dela in regionalne ekonomije pri Joanneum Research v Avstriji. Magistrirala je iz ekonomije in doktorirala iz družboslovja/ekonomije, študirala je ekonomijo v Gradcu, na Dunaju in v Jönköpingu.

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 je raziskovalka za študije reprezentativnosti v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. Odgovorna je za upravljanje raziskovalnih prispevkov Eurofoundovih nacionalnih korespondentov, nadzor kakovosti ter prispevanje k pripravi preglednih poročil za sektorske študije reprezentativnosti in zbiranje podatkov za evropsko podatkovno zbirko socialnih partnerjev. Preden se je leta 2019 pridružila Eurofoundu, je delala kot koordinatorka programa za Fundacijo Open Society Foundation v Romuniji in kot raziskovalka v Centru za javne inovacije v Bukarešti, kjer je prispevala k nacionalnim in mednarodnim raziskovalnim projektom na področju migracij, izobraževanja, dostopa državljanov tretjih držav do trga dela in človekovih pravic. Ima diplomo in magisterij iz sociologije.

Franz Ferdinand Eiffe

Research manager
Working life research

Franz Eiffe je vodja raziskav v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. Vključen je v projekte trajnostnega dela, kvantitativne analize in navzgor usmerjene konvergence v EU ter pri pripravi četrte evropske raziskave podjetij. Preden se je leta 2016 pridružil Eurofoundu, je bil vodja enote za analize pri avstrijskem statističnem uradu na Dunaju in vodja projekta "Kako je v Avstriji? Merjenje bogastva in napredka nad BDP". Doktoriral je iz ekonomije na Ekonomski univerzi na Dunaju (WU), kjer je od leta 2005 do leta 2009 delal tudi kot znanstveni sodelavec in do leta 2016 kot predavatelj.

Barbara Gerstenberger

​Head of Unit
Working life research

Barbara Gerstenberger je vodja enote za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. V tej vlogi usklajuje raziskovalne skupine, ki preučujejo kakovost delovnih mest v Evropi na podlagi evropske raziskave o delovnih razmerah, in je na splošno odgovorna za Evropski observatorij za delovno življenje in raziskave odnosov med delodajalci in delojemalci v EU. Eurofoundu se je pridružila leta 2001 kot vodja raziskav v takrat novoustanovljenem Evropskem centru za spremljanje sprememb (EMCC). Leta 2007 se je preselila v Eurofoundovo informacijsko in komunikacijsko enoto kot vodja komunikacijskih produktov, nato pa je bila leta 2011 imenovana za koordinatorko v direktoratu. Pred tem je delala kot višja raziskovalka v Evropski federaciji kovinarjev v Bruslju. Diplomirala je iz politologije na Univerzi v Hamburgu, magistrirala je iz javne uprave na Kennedy School of Government na Univerzi Harvard.

Manuel Gómez Martín

Administrative assistant
Working life research

Manuel Gómez Martín je administrativni pomočnik v enoti za delovno življenje. Ukvarja se predvsem s področjem odnosov med delodajalci in delojemalci, posebej pa organizira javna naročila in sestanke v okviru povezanih projektov. Pred tem je delal za GD JRC v Evropski komisiji ter za zasebna podjetja v Londonu in Španiji.

Peter Kerckhofs

Senior research manager
Working life research

Peter Kerckhofs je višji vodja raziskav v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. Njegovo delo se osredotoča na vlogo socialnih partnerjev v evropskem semestru in tudi na nacionalno poročanje o razvoju odnosov med delodajalci in delojemalci. Peter ima široko strokovno znanje pri razvoju metodologije za študije reprezentativnosti, uporabi evropskih in nacionalnih meril reprezentativnosti v specifičnem kontekstu različnih sektorjev, hkrati pa zbira poglobljeno znanje o razmerjih med delodajalci in delojemalci v različnih sektorjih. Peter je sodeloval tudi pri projektih, povezanih z evropskimi sveti delavcev in evropskim sektorskim socialnim dialogom. Preden se je pridružil Eurofoundu, je delal kot raziskovalec za ETUI in UCL, kot politični sekretar za EMCEF in bil znanstveni koordinator doktorske fakultete Fakultete za družbene vede KU Leuven. Diplomiral je iz socialnega dela in magistriral iz političnih ved na KU Leuven in mednarodne odnose na UCL ter doktoriral iz industrijskih odnosov na Univerzi v Manchestru.

Sophia MacGoris

Surveys officer
Working life research

Sophia MacGoris je sodelavka za raziskave, ki dela v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. Sodeluje pri vseh treh Eurofoundovih raziskavah. Ker je že vrsto let vključena v mednacionalne raziskave, s svojimi izkušnjami in prečno vlogo zagotavlja kontinuiteto učenja in zagotavljanje kakovosti na najvišji ravni v celotnem procesu anketiranja. Preden se je leta 1996 pridružila Eurofoundu, je več let delala v Evropski komisiji v Bruslju na področju znanosti, raziskav in razvoja. Ima diplomo iz družboslovja, specializirano za socialno politiko.

Pietro Malacalza

Research assistant
Working life research

Pietro Malacalza je raziskovalni asistent v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu, ki je pred tem delal na področju operativne podpore. Njegovo delo vključuje podporo mreži Eurofoundovih dopisnikov, vključno z nadzorom kakovosti, povzemanjem nacionalnih prispevkov za raziskovalna poročila in podatkovne zbirke, spremljanjem posameznih rezultatov in kodiranjem informacij v programski opremi za kvalitativne raziskave. Preden se je pridružil Eurofoundu, je delal kot svetovalec za vodenje projektov za Skupno raziskovalno središče Evropske komisije (JRC), delal pa je tudi na različnih položajih v IT, vesoljski in živilski industriji. Diplomiral je iz politologije na Univerzi v Milanu in pridobil certifikat strokovnjaka za projektno vodenje (PMP).

Agnès Parent-Thirion

Senior research manager
Working life research

Agnès Parent-Thirion je višja vodja raziskav v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu, ki je zadolžena za načrtovanje, razvoj in izvajanje raziskovalnih projektov o delovnih razmerah, zlasti evropske raziskave o delovnih razmerah (EWCS) in njenih analiz. Odgovorna je za izredno izdajo EWCS 2021 in za pripravo vprašalnika za EWCS 2024. Njeni raziskovalni interesi vključujejo delovne pogoje, kakovost delovnih mest, spremljanje delovnih pogojev, organizacijo dela, spol, prihodnost dela in čas. Že več kot desetletje dela na področju evropskih primerjalnih raziskav na vseh področjih, vključno z oblikovanjem, razvojem vprašalnika, terenskim delom, kontrolo kakovosti in analizo. Diplomirala je iz ekonomije in managementa na univerzah Paris IX Dauphine in Paris I Panthéon na Sorboni ter ima podiplomsko diplomo iz statistike na Trinity College Dublin. Pred kratkim je zaključila spletne tečaje o umetni inteligenci: vodenje na podlagi poizvedb pri MIT Sloan Executive Education in "Les grand enjeux de la transition: re-ouvrir l'horizon, comprendre pour agir" s Campus de la Transition. Preden se je pridružila Eurofoundu, je več let delala v Evropski 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 je raziskovalka v enoti za delovno življenje pri Eurofoundu. Odgovorna je za pripravo preglednih poročil za sektorske študije reprezentativnosti, upravljanje in nadzor kakovosti nacionalnega poročanja o odnosih med delodajalci in delojemalci, socialnem dialogu in poklicnem življenju ter razvoj projekta o kolektivnih pogajanjih, ki presegajo plačilo. Preden se je pridružila Eurofoundu, je delala kot sodelavka za tehnične raziskave v oddelku za upravljanje in tridelizem pri Mednarodni organizaciji dela v Ženevi pri vodilnem poročilu o socialnem dialogu za leto 2022. Delala je tudi kot raziskovalka na Srednjeevropskem inštitutu za študije dela v Bratislavi (2013–2020), kjer se je osredotočala na socialni dialog, kolektivna pogajanja, delovne pogoje in sociologijo dela. Maria je magistrirala iz politologije s specializacijo za primerjalno evropsko politiko na Srednjeevropski univerzi.

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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The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies