COVID-19

In light of COVID-19, Eurofound has adjusted its research to:

• monitor the evolving situation and collect data regarding the impact of this unprecedented situation on the lives of Europeans via an online survey, as well as measures taken by policy actors to combat the effects of the pandemic on employment, working conditions and living conditions
• provide an analysis of specific topics, such as employment effects, effects on specific sectors, effectiveness of specific measures (for example, short-time work schemes).

Initially, more in-depth analysis will be produced in the form of an ad-hoc report, COVID-19: Some implications for employment and working life, which will focus on evaluating employment effects and looking at measures implemented with a view to limiting the negative effects.

• Forthcoming publication January 2021: COVID-19: Some implications for employment and working life

In the medium to longer term, Eurofound is already actively exploring other areas where it could possibly adjust its current and future work to respond effectively to the situation.

Labour market

Over the years, Eurofound has established itself as a key resource on labour markets and labour market change. Previous and ongoing research includes the European Restructuring Monitor (ERM), which monitors the employment impact of large-scale restructuring events in Europe. Eurofound will build on the work it currently carries out in the area of labour market monitoring and analysis. The ERM will adjust its focus to include monitoring of the impact of COVID-19 on the employment effects of large-scale restructuring events in Europe.

Efforts will also be made to adapt elements of the existing European Jobs Monitor (EJM) to further understand the changing employment structure in Europe in view of the crisis.

• EMCC: European Restructuring Monitor
• EMCC: European Jobs Monitor

Platform work has been an important topic over the past few years and has gained in importance during the present crisis. Most recently, Eurofound published an article highlighting the sick pay void for platform workers due to the Coronavirus, which draws information from Eurofound’s Platform economy repository. This database is continuously updated with information on how the crises impacts platform work and platform workers. A 2019 policy brief addressed the employment and working conditions of selected types of platform work.

Eurofound will be looking to analyse new developments, such as the increased demand for some types of platform work and associated health risks for workers, as well as the decrease in demand for other types of platform work and associated earnings and protection gap. 

• Article: Coronavirus highlights sick pay void for platform workers
• Data: Platform economy initiatives - COVID-19

Support measures

Both the EU and national governments have introduced a variety of support measures aimed at averting a new recession. Eurofound will continuously update the ERM support instruments database and add a specific focus on COVID-19 measures.

• ERM: Restructuring support instruments

The fact sheets in the ERM events database are updated on a weekly basis to show redundancies and the database is now searchable for input related to COVID-19.

• ERM: Restructuring events database

Eurofound has also compiled a variety of information on social protection and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – two areas of great importance for upcoming or already introduced support measures.

Ongoing work on examining the social partners’ involvement in the elaboration and implementation of support measures will expand to include the extraordinary policies and measures introduced to combat the impact of COVID-19. An assessment of their effectiveness will be carried out using the Network of Eurofound Correspondents.

Workplace issues and working life

One of the most radical changes for many people during COVID-19 has been the switch to teleworking, due to the introduction of quarantine and safety measures. The subject of teleworking is covered in Eurofound’s COVID-19 e-survey and first findings show that teleworking has taken off in all EU countries with over a third of those in employment starting to work remotely as a result of the pandemic, with obvious consequences for work–life balance. Future research will look at the effects of the rise in teleworking and ICT-based mobile work and implications for work–life balance, as well as the right to disconnect.

• Blog: COVID-19 unleashed the potential for telework – How are workers coping?
• Data: Working, teleworking and COVID-19
• Publication: Regulations to address work–life balance in digital flexible working arrangements

Other important research areas

• With increasing calls for the introduction of a minimum income or the use of other tools as a stabiliser for future crises, Eurofound proposes taking steps to analyse this in greater detail.
• In light of the launch of the fourth European Company Survey in autumn 2020, it is already planned to carry out follow-up interviews to map challenges reported by companies and the measures introduced.

Societal impact, quality of life and public services

Eurofound has carried out a range of research on youth and specifically on young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs), who emerged as one of the most vulnerable groups following the Great Recession. Considering the current crisis, Eurofound proposes to examine the impact on young people as part of its ongoing study on NEETs, as well as examining the implications of the unprecedented increase in digital solutions (e-learning, e-healthcare, e-entertainment/leisure). Eurofound’s COVID-19 e-survey already shows the serious impact yet again on young people, as they cope with the lowest levels of mental well-being and high levels of loneliness. Young men also appear most affected by job loss in the current crisis.

• Webinar 25 June 2020: Webinar: How COVID-19 affects Europeans and the EU labour market
• Blog: Is history repeating itself? The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on youth
• Publication: Living, working and COVID-19: First findings – April 2020
• Blog: Europe’s long-term issue: Youth unemployment
• Forthcoming publication April 2021: Social situation of NEETs: 10 years on?

It will also expand its work on societal change and trust in institutions – in particular, trust in national governments – in light of the impact of COVID-19. Eurofound’s COVID-19 e-survey covers trust in institutions and first findings show that Europeans are reporting dramatically low levels of trust in the EU and in their national governments. Highest trust levels lie with healthcare systems in combating the COVID-19 crisis. 

• Blog: Trust tensions highlight need for Europe to ensure a coordinated response to COVID-19
• Data: Quality of life and COVID-19
• Publication: Societal change and trust in institutions

Existing work carried out in the area of social protection could also be extended to address how new provisions complement existing social protection cover and the costs and benefits of such initiatives.