Working time is a critical element in the working conditions of all workers and is one of the main points for negotiation in collective bargaining. The issue has far-reaching consequences for competitiveness, plays a role in shaping home life, and both reflects and influences gender equality and...

More jobs were lost than created across Europe in recent years, and although company restructuring, job losses and site closures caused significant industrial action, many countries still experienced little or no strike activity. The recession and its aftermath were particularly severe on young...

The aim of flexicurity is to improve employment opportunities for workers, while at the same time increasing flexibility, enabling organisations to adapt their operations and employment levels to business needs. The past few years have, however, been particularly challenging for European labour...

The concept of flexicurity has been based on a notion that robust active labour market policies, lifelong learning investment and modern social security systems can ensure security of employment and income, even if contractual arrangements become more flexible and job transitions more frequent,...

In the context of its 2011 work programme, Eurofound has explored the situation of young people who are part of the NEET group: 'not in employment, education or training'. The research was carried out by Eurofound's Employment and Competitiveness unit, using the capacity of the Network of...

Eurofound's research on 'Restructuring in recession and labour force participation' explored the age management practices of companies in light of restructuring undergone during the recession. The study looked at policy in relation to the retention of older workers (aged 50 or more) in...

This report describes over 50 cases of companies in 11 Member States that have adopted measures to support their employees with care responsibilities for disabled children or adults. Key initiatives by companies include: various types of leave; reduced working hours; and such supportive measures...

With a particular focus on the crisis and responses to it, this annual review highlights developments in working conditions and industrial relations in the EU Member States and Norway in 2010, both at national and EU level. At national level, the report examines key issues covered by collective...

Structural change is a general characteristic of economic development, driven by shifts in relative productivity and demand, technological or socioeconomic changes. To adapt to a changing economic environment, companies undergo restructuring to maintain or improve their competitiveness and,...

Europeans continued to feel the ongoing impact of the recession on their employment, working conditions and the quality of their lives in 2010. Public sector employment suffered in the face of budgetary concerns in Member States, while job gains rose overall, and job losses fl uctuated....