Uvjeti rada i održivi rad

Ključne poruke politike

Glavni nalazi istraživanja koje će zaklada Eurofound provesti poslužit će kao doprinos tvorcima politika u rješavanju nekih od ključnih pitanja u tom području.

• Poboljšanje uvjeta rada presudno je i za radnike i poslodavce. Potrebno je razmotriti mnogo različitih aspekata kvalitete radnih mjesta. Kvalitetna radna mjesta omogućuju dulji i bolji radni vijek, čime se doprinosi održivom radu i ravnoteži između posla i privatnog života.
• Uvjeti rada u EU-u općenito su sve bolji unatoč činjenici da je napredak postupan. U slučaju nekih skupina radnika ne ostvaruje se jednako brz napredak. On ovisi o vrsti ugovora o radu, sektoru i stupnju stečenog obrazovanja.
• Uvjeti rada i kvaliteta radnih mjesta u EU-u mogu se poboljšati na brojne načine. Vlade zakonodavstvom koje donose zasigurno imaju važnu ulogu u uspostavi relevantnog okvira. No radnici i poslodavci te njihove organizacije također su važni akteri. Kad je riječ o brojnim dimenzijama kvalitete radnih mjesta, upravo su radna mjesta ta na kojima dolazi do promjena.
• Samo je petina europskih poduzeća otkrila tajnu postizanja optimalne dobrobiti na radnom mjestu i optimalnih poslovnih rezultata. Radna mjesta u koja se puno ulaže i na kojima je razina uključenosti zaposlenika visoka najbolji su ishod za radnike i poslodavce jer poboljšavaju poslovne rezultate i kvalitetu radnih mjesta davanjem veće razine autonomije zaposlenicima, poticanjem njihove uključenosti i promicanjem osposobljavanja i učenja.
• Mnogi teško usklađuju profesionalne i druge obveze, posebice roditelji i drugi pružatelji skrbi. Fleksibilni uvjeti rada mogu pomoći u rješavanju tih poteškoća, no donose i izazove. Rad na daljinu, primjerice, daje više slobode u pogledu odabira vremena i mjesta rada, no može rezultirati i duljim i intenzivnijim radnim vremenom te težim isključivanjem od posla.
• Porast učestalosti rada na daljinu tijekom pandemije uzrokovane bolešću COVID-19 upućuje na gubljenje granica između poslovnog i privatnog života. Brojne vlade i socijalni partneri raspravljaju o inicijativama za „pravo na isključivanje” kako bi se spriječila izloženost velikih skupina radnika riziku od tjelesne i emocionalne iscrpljenosti.
• Socijalni bi partneri ubuduće u sve pravne okvire ili sporazume trebali nastojati uključiti odredbe za radnike o dobrovoljnoj prirodi rada na daljinu ili prikladnosti određenih zadaća za takav rad. Ključno će biti i pojasniti način na koji poslodavci mogu sudjelovati u troškovima povezanima s radom od kuće te zajamčiti jednake plaće i pristup osposobljavanju za osobe koje rade na daljinu.

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.