Analytics, Business in Europe, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Markets and Companies

In mid-February 2013, Eurofound launched the new project of the 3^rd European Company Survey, so-called 3-ECS) titled “Surveying how European workplaces have managed in the economic downturn”. The information came from Dublin, Ireland, where the Eurofound Agency is situated.

The new Eurofound edition would cover 32 countries and provide insights to changes in workplace and human resource management practices, employee participation and social dialogue at the workplace, as well as workers’ performance, since the inset of the economic downturn. 

European companies play a crucial role in getting out of the crisis and in reaching the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for sustainable, inclusive and smart growth. The European Company Survey (ECS) gives an overview of workplace practices and how they are negotiated in European establishments. It is based on the views of both managers and employee representatives, and it is designed to provide information on workplace practices to develop and evaluate socioeconomic policy. 

Preliminary coverage

The 2^nd Survey revealed that in 2009, more than 60% of employees in Europe were covered by a trade union or a works’ council at the workplace. Besides, according to the European Company Survey four out of five workplaces were found to have good work climate.

See: Agency’s website: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/

First ECS edition was carried out in 2004, and the second one in 2009; present third one was issued in mid-February 2013. 

The fieldwork for the third edition of the European Company Survey (3ECS) will be carried out simultaneously in 32 countries (27 EU Member States and Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro and Turkey), targeting 29,950 companies and establishments, ranging from 300 to 1650 depending on the size of the country. Interviews are carried out with a manager responsible for human resources and an employee representative at workplace level.

First results from the 3-ECS are anticipated at the end of 2013.  

The 3-ECS main idea

The main focus of the 3-ECS is work organisation, workplace innovation, employee participation and social dialogue. The survey will map a number of practices used in European workplaces, as well as how they are discussed and negotiated at workplace level as well as some of their outcomes. The questionnaire was prepared in cooperation with Eurofound's tripartite stakeholders and experts in the relevant fields.

Information and research data from the 2^nd European Company Survey (2-ECS) are available at http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/surveys/ecs/2009/index.htm.