Survey on the willingness of european companies to meet the challenges of global competition and the recession

Eurofound (www.eurofound.europa.eu), a European research agency, based in Dublin, surveyed 27 000 employers from the public and private sector in the 27 member states of the Union, Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia.
The final results are expected in March. The first findings indicate that many companies are using flexible policies for hiring, pay and work to increase their ability to respond to the changes of business climate. The flexible labor market is an important element of the EU strategy for a more dynamic and competitive Europe.
Approximately 2/3 of the companies use freelance workers or other temporary relief, but more than half of them employ at least one person on a fixed term contract.
Widespread is the application of the part-time. 2/3 of the surveyed companies apply to part-time, but in positions requiringhigh qualifications it is still rare.
Slightly more than 1/3 of employers offer pay linked to performance and only 14 % of surveyed private companies have schemes for sharing of profits.
Flexibility is "double-edged sword". Around 56 % of European companies (as compared with 48 % five years ago) allow their employees to organize their working time in accordance with their personal commitments.
The survey was carried out in 2009, when recession hit the labor market. Employers have reported a worsening of working conditions in some countries.
Survey of european companies in 2009 - reviewing the results at: www.eurofound.europa.eu/surveys/companysurvey/2009/index.htm
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