The contribution of Eurofound to working conditions and health and safety surveys. ETUI, 18 March 2009

Transcription

1 The contribution of Eurofound to working conditions and health and safety surveys Agnès s Parent-Thirion, ETUI, 18 March /03/2009 1

2 Monitoring working and living conditions : the surveys The European working conditions survey ( EWCS) Fifth EWCS to take place in 2010 The European company survey Fieldwork of the second one taking place now, next edition foresseen in 2012 The European quality of life survey Launch of 2 nd round results this month 26/03/2009 2

3 Monitoring working and living conditions : the observatories NEO : Network of European Observatories EIRO : european observatory of industrial relations (11 years) ( IR developments, key data on actors, processes, outcomes monitored regularly) EWCO: European working conditions observatory (6 years) (research findings on working conditions and quality of work and employment) EMCC with the ERM and the EET (8 years) (data and analysis on company restructuring and change in the labour market) Overall: Regular information - Information Updates, Restructuring Fact Sheets; Structural and contextual information - survey data reports, IR profiles; Comparative analysis; Periodic reviews and trend data 26/03/2009 3

4 Surveys obs Complementary tools Various functions Preparation CAR on terminology, CAR on ER Validation : some ewco CARs on stress, working parents Contextualisation eg CAR on parental leaves In depth : CAR on qwe Survey data reports Information updates, annual updates The rest of eurofound work is dealing with good practices analysis as well as in depth analysis of relevant subjects 26/03/2009 4

5 Complementarity between Eurofound surveys? Common characteristics : relevant to (european) policy making, to eurofound stakeholders, not covered by another European survey, multi purpose, relevant to research and based on sound research, «universal» but not simplistic.. In a cost effective way Surveys not official statistics; relationships are v important Technically Harmonisation of good practices (methodologies, project management, key variables, quality and auditing) ongoing but a slow process Surveys remain distinct : universes, aims, research and policy relevance, history different 26/03/2009 5

6 Complementarity between Eurofound surveys? Short description, Working time and work life balance issues between the ESWT and the 4th EWCS : quite strong complementarity but no linking, no micro data analyses possible Work life balance between the EQLS and the EWCS to some extent 2 nd EES and 5th EWCS some complementarity The collective voice from an individual perspective Participation Some issues on qwe 26/03/2009 6

7 Complementarity between eurofound surveys and national surveys Inspiration : certainly for Eurofound, questionnaires, methodology etc but evidence also that some of «our» questions are used in other surveys Collect information on surveys, questionnaires Validation: do we observe the same phenomena? Similar evolution? Is this in line with national findings? Are our indicators moving in the same direction? If not, why Collect information on findings, some datasets Network of data producers : doesn t exist as a network but there are some exchange more for the ewcs than the EES and the EQLS Involve in questionnnaire dvt etc 26/03/2009 7

8 Complementarity between eurofound surveys and national surveys Contribution to national seminars The position of one country vis-à-vis europe In depth analysis at national level Policy answers, contextualisation A new possibility for the 5th EWCS : topping up national surveys, possibly short national ad-hoc modules The global working conditions survey with the ILO The South Korean working conditions survey 26/03/2009 8

9 Linking with other data, registers etc At country / sectoral level, data from the LFS, EU SILC, EODS-ESAW. More in the future At groups levels, Not done yet. Maybe some possibilities. At individual level, not possible in Europe although done in some countries 26/03/2009 9

10 Adding to survey data : the example of the post test of the 4th EWCS A combination of different objectives: Quality control measure from content point of view Translation, technical capacity of questions of measuring what they measure, etc Tool for interpretation of the results How do people understand the questions/answers Assess role of national infrastructure / cultural context / gender / etc in shaping the answers to the EWCS Find room/inspiration for new questions Gather more information on one topic Could be done as a follow up to eurofound surveys To explore certain situations of interest eg companies that have negotiated on a certain issues, workers in certain situations To gather information which cannot be gathered by the normal survey eg work history and life events.. Etc for networking, debates 26/03/

11 Challenges of cross-cultural, cultural, multi- linguistic research questions should not only be valid, they should have comparable crosscultural validity Possible biases: concept bias, method bias, item bias (Van de Vijver) Translations deserve that time and resources are invested Involve researchers from different countries and languages from the very first beginning Level of language is important Attention to quality of translation (double translation plus back translation) EIRO/EWCO validation exrcise More is better : findings should be cross-validated by other national findings from other surveys Solid documentation of all stages 26/03/

12 Shortcomings of the traditional survey Qualitative method at its best Measures phenomena (averages) Fails to discover new information Focuses on averages Fails to see the importance of meanings Detaches individual from their groups Fails to see the processive nature of phenomena Treats the interviewee as an object Capable of discovering new Recognises differences Recognises meanings Can see individuals within their group Possibility for studying processes Considers the subjects activities and experiences (Lehto 1996 and 2002) 26/03/

13 HEALTH AND WELL- BEING Health and safety outcomes Exposure to risks Occupational Health and Safety prevention framework CAREER AND JOB SECURITY Status Income Social protection Workers rights QWE COMBINING WORKING AND NON- WORKING LIFE Organisation of time Social infrastructures and provisions COMPETENCE DEVELOPMENT Skills Training and education Career development Learning organisation 26/03/

14 The repetition of a survey over time No longitudinal data Balance between trend building and new issues, N of issues and in-depth limited N of issues So far, the ewcs has expanded at its edition Complex jigsaw Some historical compromises to be re-examined at each time Subjective objective / measurement of facts, subjective concepts, opinions Knowledge of workers 26/03/

15 The repetition of a survey over time Sampling : random route the default option Variables versus answers to the same question: one exception bullying? From industrial work to service work.. KS etc 26/03/

16 Some of the current challenges Ongoing challenge: gender mainstreaming Women s work, HH, work outside paid work, men outside work to be dvpd, groups of men/women, gender equality at the workplace+ gender effects in answering? + gender sensitive analysis Lifecourse perspective: realistic to integrate? Work history, life events, health events Different groups of citizens are under scrutiny Migrant (def?), ethnic (def?), disabled workers etc 26/03/

17 Some of the current challenges «flexibilisation» or the end of the fordist model Working time, non permanent contracts From homeworking to place of work ( but homeworking remains a valid issue) Blurring fronteers Project work, control by the customers Professional identity or new/changing identities Lifelong learning to employability Etc Not loosing direction.. Oriented towards some possible action 26/03/

18 Some of the current challenges Subjectivité Not only opinion, but also empathy, hiding emotions, dealing with angry clients, ethical conflicts, role clarification Changes : Rythm and N of changes, continuous adaptation Objectivation The role of the countries Legal norms, economic factors (hh structure, women s participation, gdp etc), societal preferences, social infrastructures 26/03/

19 Merci, 26/03/

20 Measuring working conditions Working conditions result from the interactions between work characteristics and workers characteristics in a special social context Therefore we need to measure (Relevant) Job characteristics (relevant) workers characteristics The result of their interactions ( Gollac, 2004) 26/03/

21 Self reported working conditions They directly measure working conditions eg the result of the interaction between the work and the worker Not very expensive Allow a wide set of measures But they are not that expensive They depend on the design of the questions, the surveyor, the respondent mood, psychocial factors (satisfaction, violence) etc 26/03/

22 A brief history of the survey: main findings and research outcomes The discovery phase The consolidation phase The extension / enlargement phase Physical risks still high Review of the org of preventive services Stress, qwe of precarious employment Dealing with stress Relation between precariousness and health Flexibility in companies, New MS, QWE indicators, gender equality plans at the workplace, violence 26/03/

23 The EWCS : 4 surveys 90/91 95/ EU 12 EU15 EU 15 + NO +10CC + TK 12,819 15,986 21,703+12,077 29,758 EU AC + 2 CC +NO+ CH Physical exposures high, low control/ high demands Stress Precariousness Gender Time : flexibility Work organisation, a beginning Violence TAW and temporary employment more work organisation Some HR More job satisfaction or psychosocial NMS 26/03/

24 Main themes of the 4EWCS: a wide range of topics to capture working conditions Demographics, structure of workforce Working time Physical and psychosocial work factors Place of work /work organisation Work-life balance Job content and training Information and consultation Outcomes (health, job satisfaction, earnings) Earnings 26/03/

25 Why survey on working conditions? To measure a proportion of a phenomenon (and changes over time), and to analyse it at a certain level of details : Sample size Issues included Analyses to be performed etc. To look at relationship between issues To contribute to policy making 26/03/

26 Some job characteristics which influence working conditions Working time : how long? when? Time pressure Autonomy Cooperation and social support Technology Etc. 26/03/

27 A few issues around measurement objective measures of working conditions and self reported working conditions Objective measures Ready made data ( accidents, fatalities, occupational diseases) Cheap But address only some important but partial issues and are dependent of the activity of the government (regulation, results of litigations etc) They are not sufficient then to measure working conditions 26/03/

28 Age Some worker s characteristics Gender and household characteristics Education and training Working experience and seniority in general and in the post 26/03/

29 EWCS Does your job involve carrying or moving heavy loads? All the time Almost all of the time Around ¾ of the time Around half of the time Around ¼ of the time Almost never never 26/03/

30 A few issues around measurement (2) Especially designed data Weight of loads Temperature Exposure to chemical products Advantages : depend only on scientific choices But they are v expensive, they are partial and they don t integrate workers characteristics They therefore provide an accurate measurement of some job characteristics but not a global view of working conditions Eg measuring heavy loads : weight, shape, strong/weak, position / time to handle etc 26/03/

31 Self-reported data : how to improve them? Design of the questions Must be tested Little change over time As comparable as possible Conditions of the interview Interview mode, number of people in the room Interviewers : trained and experienced on survey as well as the content 26/03/

32 Women s (work)ing conditions The value of women s work Making visible unpaid work Gender differences : labour market segregation and/or gender relations Documenting work of jobs with a high(er than average) proportions of women : 26% of jobs are mixed (ewcs) Documenting household characteristics, care responsabilities The health of women : the apparent paradox less exposed to risks however higher reporting of heqlth problems The unpaid work? Looking at specific women s risks : miscarriage etc Work organisation and health (ef, 2003) the flexible women The voluntary part-time 26/03/

33 Objectivation «This is part of the job, it s normal «Eg dust for cleaning ladies, number of hours worked by teachers, weights of loads carried by caissières 26/03/

34 The overall research cycle Policy, practice and scholarship Type 1 Exploratory case studies Development of concepts/hypotheses/indicators Type 3 Exemplary case studies Quantitative research Development of quality criteria. Type 2 Explanatory case studies Development of research questions 26/03/

35 Questions from the survey A wide range of questions were tested Job autonomy Job content: Complex/monotonous tasks/learning new things Problem solving Intellectual/emotional demanding Useful work/do what you do best Social support Work intensity High speed / tight deadlines /enough time Teamwork Skills improvement Training Discussions of problems with boss / regular assessment Work-life balance Job satisfaction General aspects of the job Job security (might loose my job) / well paid for job I do/ opportunities for career advancement + Some more open questions about development opportunities in the job 26/03/