Topics: Working Environment

  • Take-up rate of parental and paternity leave remains low across Europe

    The take-up rate of parental and paternity leave among fathers has been increasing in most Member States but it still remains relatively low. Covering all the EU Member States and Norway, this report looks at the most recent trends in terms of take-up of parental and paternity leave, existing provisions and factors influencing take-up rates.

  • Big differences in incidence of industrial action in companies across the EU

    The global economic and financial crisis brought to an end an era of relative calm with regards to collective industrial action, and the highest incidence of industrial action was not surprisingly found in countries worst hit by the crisis. Wednesday 18 February is the international day of action in defence of the right to strike, initiated by the International Trade Union Confederation ITUC.

  • A spotlight on statutory minimum wage levels in Europe in 2015

    The minimum wage levels have begun to increase over the past two years, following years of no change. The latest quarterly update from EurWORK presents the most recent data on statutory minimum wages in Europe, applicable on 1 January 2015, and an overview of the discussions leading to the final settlements made in 2014.

  • ​Eurofound’s 2015 Annual Work Programme

    Eurofound’s 2015 work programme outlines a dual challenge for the European Union and the Member States: finding a way out of the crisis while pursuing the mid-term ambition of achieving progress towards a competitive and fair Europe. Although the financial situation in Europe seems to have stabilised, the recovery is still very modest and needs to be consolidated.

  • Crisis has affected supply and demand in healthcare

    In the wake of the economic and financial crisis, many European governments have cut spending on healthcare services. A new report from Eurofound identifies the groups most likely to face barriers to healthcare as a consequence of the crisis, including a number of new groups that have been generally overlooked by policymakers.

  • Levels of work-related stress, and violence and harassment, are still high in European workplaces

    A new report out today gives a broad overview on psychosocial risks at European workplaces and provides examples on the way forward at political as well as company level. The report is presented today to national labour inspectors and practitioners from several southern European countries in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and to EU-level policymakers in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday 16 October 2014.

  • Europe is struggling to deliver improved living and working conditions for all

    Eurofound’s fifth annual yearbook, Living and working in Europe, based on the Agency’s research from 2013, describes developments in the EU in the wake of the crisis, focusing on major topic areas including changes in labour markets and employment, efforts to tackle youth unemployment, innovation in workplaces and public trust in institutions.

  • Working time and annual holidays divide Europe

    The average collectively agreed weekly working time in the European Union stood at 38.1 hours in 2013, according to Eurofound’s latest working time update. The combined total of agreed annual leave and public holidays in the EU varied from 40 days in Germany and France to 29 days in Belgium - a difference of more than two working weeks. The Working Time Developments in Europe 2013 report is out.

  • Social dialogue as a driver in shaping and improving employment and working conditions in the EU

    In cooperation with the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Eurofound is organising a high-level conference Social Dialogue as a driver in shaping and improving employment and working conditions in the EU in Athens on Monday 23 June 2014. Keynote speakers include Nobel Price winner Sir Christopher Pissarides and Ioannis Vroutsis, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Welfare.

  • Europe's wage-setting mechanisms under the spotlight

    The crisis has triggered considerable changes in wage-bargaining regimes in a number of countries, further extending the existing tendency towards decentralisation in others. Eurofound launches today a report on 'Changes to wage-setting mechanisms in the context of the crisis and the EU’s new economic governance regime' at a lunch time debate with European Social Partners in Brussels, Belgium.

  • Work preferences after 50

    Part-time work facilitates a better work–life balance – particularly, it seems, for people aged 50+. Among people aged 50+, both in and out of employment, there is a preference for more part-time options. Today we launch our new Foundation Findings - 3EQLS Policy Brief - on Work preferences after 50.

  • Social dialogue in micro and small companies in Europe

    Micro and small companies constitute the backbone of private business in Europe. Despite their crucial place in the economy, there has been little research on role of social dialogue for good working conditions, and implementing health & safety at the workplace, in micro and small companies. Eurofound's new report out today is about to change that.

  • Positive effects of steel workers’ direct participation in managing health, safety and psychosocial risks at the workplace

    Encouraging people to talk about their problems at work, especially psychosocial problems, is a key element in prevention strategies. Eurofound releases a new report that looks at industrial relations practices regarding health and safety strategies in the European steel sector by analysing company practices in ArcelorMittal (FR), Rautaruukki (FIN) and Salzgitter AG (DE).

  • Increase in young people living at home across EU since onset of economic crisis

    The number of young people living at home with their parents across Europe has increased from 44% to 48% between 2007 and 2011, according to new research by Eurofound. The ‘Social situation of young people in Europe’, presented to policymakers in Dublin today, offer comparative insight across EU Member States of the social situation of youth in Europe and evolving trends.

  • 2014: Citizen Action for better family policies #FamiliesVOTE2014 debate

    The economic crisis has hit EU countries hard, and the unemployment rate of women and young people have risen to unprecedented levels. This puts a lot of pressure on families, and the EU as a whole. What can be done to ensure young people have either a job, or an internship or a place in education or training? Join the debate on what the EU can and will do for families’ wellbeing on 28 March.

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