Labour and social regulation

Labour and social regulation covers the legal framework and fundamental social rights that regulates industrial relations, employment and social policies across Europe. It includes national, EU and international legislation. Union labour law has a direct or indirect impact on the normative and functional frameworks of individual and collective labour law systems of the Member States in a relationship of mutual interference and interaction. Increasingly Union labour laws are also shaped by agreements that the parties voluntarily enter into and by soft law mechanisms. The reform or modernising of labour law is currently high on the agenda in several Member States.

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Article

1 October 2024

After #MeToo: Changes in sexual harassment policy at work

Sara Riso

The #MeToo movement, which began in 2017 with allegations of sexual harassment and assault in the entertainment industry, has brought significant attention to sexual harassment, particularly as it affects working women. The #MeToo movement has sparked a broader discussion about the prevalence of sexual misconduct at work and has driven legislative changes in several countries. Based on information collected from Eurofound’s Network of European Correspondents, this article reviews the various approaches to addressing sexual harassment in EU Member States and highlights recent policy changes.

Research report

25 September 2024

Workplace bullying, harassment and cyberbullying: Are regulations and policies fit for purpose?

Sara Riso

Over the last decade, information and communication technologies have changed the way employees work and communicate with each other. While the digitalisation of work offers many benefits, widespread access to digital devices in working life has created new forms of antisocial behaviour. This report maps national regulatory instruments aimed at counteracting antisocial behaviours at work, particularly bullying and harassment. Legislative reviews indicate that in many Member States online forms of abuse are often viewed as extensions of the traditional form of face-to-face bullying or harassment rather than as a distinct phenomenon requiring separate regulation. Some countries have amended existing legislation to include cyberbullying and online harassment. This report reviews to what extent such online conduct is regulated in EU Member States and Norway. As regulatory change is generally prompted by a certain level of policy debate, the report also explores national-level debates and whether there is empirical evidence documenting the issue or that potentially indicate a rise in the phenomenon.

Article

16 September 2024

Work–life balance: Policy developments

Barbara De Micheli,

Alessandro Smilari

In recent years, work–life balance has become a central theme in labour policies across Europe. While EU Member States have adopted different approaches, the common aim is to promote a more inclusive working environment. A major driving force behind these policies was the Work–Life Balance Directive. Implemented in August 2022, the directive’s key provisions include a minimum of four months of parental leave per parent, ten days of paid paternity leave, five days of carer’s leave and provisions for flexible working arrangements. By 2023, many Member States had implemented the directive by introducing new policies or updating existing ones. While these policies show a commitment to improving workers' well-being and gender equality, they also face criticisms for their narrow focus on childcare and uneven promotion of fathers' roles. They often emphasise only certain aspects of personal life related to care duties. Policies that address diverse care needs and support holistic work–life balance are needed for a continually evolving workforce.

Experts on Labour and social regulation

Researchers at Eurofound provide expert insights and can be contacted for questions or media requests.

Dragoș Adăscăliței

Research officer

Employment research

Dragoș Adăscăliței is a research officer in the Employment unit at Eurofound. His current research focuses on topics related to the future of work, including the impact of artificial intelligence on jobs, the consequences of automation for employment and regulatory issues surrounding the platform economy. He is also a regular contributor to comparative projects monitoring structural changes in European labour markets. Prior to joining Eurofound, he was a lecturer in Employment Relations at the University of Sheffield, Management School. He holds an MA in Political Science from Central European University and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Mannheim.

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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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