Delovne razmere in trajnostno delo

Ključna sporočila politike

Glavne ugotovitve Eurofoundovih raziskav oblikovalci politik uporabijo kot podlago pri obravnavanju ključnih vprašanj na tem področju.

• Izboljšanje delovnih razmer je ključno za delavce in tudi delodajalce. Upoštevati je treba številne različne vidike kakovosti delovnih mest. Kakovostna delovna mesta ljudem omogočajo daljše in boljše poklicno življenje, prispevajo k vzdržnemu delu in omogočajo pozitivno usklajevanje poklicnega in zasebnega življenja.
• Delovne razmere v EU se na splošno izboljšujejo, čeprav je hitrost napredka zmerna. Napredek za nekatere skupine delavcev ni tako hiter: hitrost je odvisna od vrste pogodbe o zaposlitvi, gospodarske dejavnosti in ravni izobrazbe.
• Delovne razmere in kakovost delovnih mest v EU je mogoče izboljšati na številne načine. Prav gotovo imajo pomembno vlogo vlade, saj z ureditvijo vzpostavljajo okvir. Pomembni akterji pa so tudi delavci in delodajalci ter njihove organizacije. Za številne vidike kakovosti delovnih mest velja, da se spremembe odvijajo prav na delovnih mestih.
• Samo ena petina evropskih podjetij je odkrila skrivnost za doseganje optimalnega dobrega počutja na delovnem mestu in učinkovitosti poslovanja. Izkazalo se je, da delovna mesta, v katera se veliko vlaga in kjer so delavci bolj vključeni, nudijo najboljše rezultate za delavce in delodajalce, saj dvigujejo učinkovitost in izboljšujejo kakovost delovnega mesta s povečanjem samostojnosti zaposlenih, spodbujanjem njihove vključenosti ter usposabljanja in učenja.
• Številni ljudje s težavo združujejo službene in neslužbene obveznosti, zlasti starši in drugi oskrbovalci. Prožne ureditve dela sicer pomagajo pri obravnavi teh težav, a hkrati prinašajo druge izzive. Delo na daljavo na primer omogoča več svobode pri izbiri časa in kraja opravljanja dela, lahko pa tudi vodi v daljše in bolj intenzivne delovnike, pri čemer se delavci težje odklopijo od dela.
• S porastom dela na daljavo med pandemijo bolezni covid-19 so se meje med poklicnim in zasebnim življenjem še bolj zabrisale. Številne vlade in socialni partnerji razpravljajo o pobudi za „pravico do odklopa“, da bi preprečili, da bi bil velik del delavcev izpostavljen tveganju telesne in psihične izčrpanosti.
• V prihodnje morajo socialni partnerji v vse pravne okvire ali sporazume vključiti določbe za delavce o prostovoljni naravi dela na daljavo ali primernosti posameznih nalog za delo na daljavo. Prav tako bo treba pojasniti, kako lahko delodajalci prispevajo h kritju stroškov, povezanih z delom od doma, ter zagotoviti enako plačilo in dostop do usposabljanja za delavce, ki delajo na daljavo.

During 2021–2024, Eurofound will provide important insights into the challenges and prospects related to working conditions and sustainable work in the EU. Building on long-established expertise in this area, Eurofound will look at trends and progress over time and identify emerging concerns around working conditions and job quality. The analysis will cover different countries, sectors, occupations and groups of workers on issues such as work organisation and teleworking, working time, work–life balance, equal treatment, workplace health and well-being, skills and training, earnings and prospects, and job satisfaction. Non-standard forms of employment will be a specific focus, particularly self-employment.

In light of the EU’s demographic challenge of an ageing population and the increasing diversity of working life, Eurofound will continue to explore the factors enabling more workers to stay in employment longer. It will also put the spotlight on improving job quality as an enabler of greater labour market participation and increased employee motivation, contributing to sustainable work over the life course.

The links between work and health will be investigated in close consultation with the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). Eurofound aims to build on its collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) on issues around the future of work and working conditions at global level.

• Podcast: Eurofound Talks - Sustainable work

Eurofound’s research aims to assist policy action to improve working conditions and job quality, while progressing towards sustainable work, helping to address the challenges facing the EU and national levels in the areas of work and employment. It focuses on identifying pressing issues and specific groups at risk and analysing selected elements.

The Agency’s work plan is aligned with the European Commission’s political guidelines over the next four years, directly feeding into a number of key policy areas aimed at creating a robust social Europe. In particular, Eurofound’s research will support policy initiatives under the European Pillar of Social Rights in the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis and activities linked to, among other initiatives, the European Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025, the reinforced Youth Guarantee, the Youth Employment Support package, the skills agenda, as well as innovation and job creation and the European Commission’s proposal for adequate minimum wages in the EU.

• European Commission: Priorities 2019–2024: An economy that works for people

Eurofound continues to monitor developments in working conditions, with a particular focus on improvements in the job quality of older workers, the challenges associated with specific types of self-employment and the longer-term structural impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2024, fieldwork commences for the newest edition of the European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), which includes questions on working conditions and work–life outcomes relevant to the aftermath of COVID-19. The first results are planned for the end of 2024. 

Final analysis of data from the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey 2021 (EWCTS) feeds into three studies in 2024: an analysis of working conditions and work practices in the hybrid workplace; an investigation of changing working time patterns; and an examination of the job quality of older workers.

Research commences on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe, examining levels of digitalisation, digital skills, innovation and training strategies. This research assesses how workers in SMEs compare to the average in terms of working conditions, job quality, digital skills and take-up of training. 

Research in 2024 also aims to identify the most vulnerable group of workers by examining employment relationships that combine several unfavourable characteristics. The research investigates the job quality of workers in these employment relationships, their access to social protection and training, as well as ways to support the transition to more secure forms of employment.