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The European project SPReW analyses the intergenerational dimensions of changes in the relation to work. Understanding these changes has both a scientific and a pragmatic relevance. Types of relation to work shape a vision of work, expectations towards work, a vision of careers and management, a relation to knowledge and learning, and specific expectations towards public policies. SPReW is a research project funded under the 6th framework programme of the European Union, within priority 7 (Citizens and governance in the knowledge-based society). It is a two-years project (June 2006 - August 2008). The consortium involves researchers from six countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal) and stakeholders (French Ministry of Labour; Social Development Agency of the European Trade Union Confederation). The SPReW research confirms the diversification of patterns of relation to work and the trend towards increased “reflexive” expectations regarding work. It also demonstrates that age is not the foremost variable that shapes these patterns; gender and education appears also as key variables. The research also highlights the role of institutional factors (education system, the family, the labour market regulation, the welfare state model, the type of capitalism) in drawing boundaries among age groups. With few differences among countries, the consortium identifies three generations of workers which are diversely positioned on the labour market and which also show different cultures and expectations towards work. Young people (< 30) are more exposed to precariousness and unemployment but they benefit from positive educational and digital differential; they ask for more social protection and higher income but also for more freedom and opportunities of self-development. The adult generation (30 to 50) usually enjoys a stable position in the labour market but it is more exposed to the difficulties related with keeping together career expectations and family care; this generation asks for social and company support to better reconcile work and family but also for life-long learning measures in ageing-worker’s perspective. The elder generation (> 50) – when they are still at work – enjoy the best wages and security and the highest representation by trade unions but they are the most exposed in case of company restructuring because of deskilling; they ask for recognition of experience but also for the removal of constraints in working conditions. A general conclusion is that despite objectives differences, a “perception” of conflict among generations does not really emerge. Nevertheless, we should consider the possibility that more awareness of generations may initiate social tensions in the future. The different generations have to share labour market opportunities with former generations; there will necessarily be losers and winners. There is a specific balance of weakness and strength for all generations and objective critical aspects are present for each group. In such a context, intergenerational relations are becoming a key issue for social cohesion, for the integration of all generations in the workplace but also, for employers and employees, to take benefits from age diversity. However, to a certain extent, there is a gap between institutional and managerial practices and the evidence resulting from the empirical investigation conducted in the six countries covered by the SPReW project. Printable list of downloadable reports and documents (PDF) Research reports Deliverable 11 This report gives an overview of all key research activities, findings and conclusions of the project. The first chapter summarises the main topics of the state of the art of current research. The second chapter describes the methodological design of the project. The third chapter proposes a synthesis of the qualitative approach, as well as the fourth a synthesis of the quantitative approach. The fifth chapter summarises the results of the cross-national comparative analysis, stressing both European convergence and national diversity. Chapter 6 gives an overview and appraisal of relevant policy practices. The report ends up with conclusions and recommendations, presented as concrete perspectives for a good management of generations at work and pathways for more social cohesion. Authors: Executive summary A concise overview of the main findings and conclusions of the research project, in twenty pages. Targeted to researchers, policy makers, HR managers, social partners, and other concerned stakeholders. Deliverable 7 On the basis of the results of the empirical phase and the cross-national comparative analysis, pathways and recommendations are elaborated for a better management of age and intergenerational relations in the area of work and correlated fields. These recommendations and pathways have been discussed in dialogue workshops with policy makers and social actors at national level in each country and at the European level. Deliverable 6 This report establishes links between the interpretation of the qualitative and quantitative empirical results and the diversity of institutional frameworks in the different countries. It is structured in four parts. The first part identifies the theoretical approach we choose to explain the differences in intergenerational changes in relation to work and the related consequences. The second part analyses distinctiveness and similarities among institutional and cultural frameworks in the six countries along the lines of the seven elements we identified as the main objects of the comparison. The third part provides an overview of the different institutional and cultural contexts and the fourth and final part draws some general conclusions. Deliverable 1
General bibliography Deliverable 2 Deliverable 3 This report gathers the analyses that have been conducted in each country in a common qualitative approach, consisting in a total of 163 narrative interviews and 18 group interviews. A common methodological design supports this in-depth empirical study. The first chapter proposes a synthesis overview of all contributions. The report provides a renewed perspective on the meaning of work for different generations. Authors: Deliverable 4 This report consists of an overview of relevant quantitative surveys conducted at the national or regional level in all the countries included in the partnership. It also gives an overview of quantitative survey schemes conducted at the European and international levels. It provides a transversal overview of all the surveys inventoried and points out interesting conclusions regarding the SPReW issues. In addition, this report gathers some quantitative data about each country that support a good understanding of the results of the quantitative and qualitative workpackages. Authors: Deliverable 5 This report proposes a collection of policy practices in the field of youth, employment and ageing policies that have an intergenerational perspective and that can be learning experiences. The purpose of this report is to support the transition between research results and policymaking. This overview of policy practices and orientations has been made at the national and the European levels. The first part of the report deals with experiences at the national level, the second part analyses policies at the European level. Authors: Briefing papers and policy brief Policy brief, September 2008: Changing patterns of relation to work and policy challenges for intergenerational cohesion (downloadable PDF) Briefing paper n°5, September 2008: final deliverables (downloadable PDF) Briefing paper n°4, January 2008: first findings of qualitative research (downloadable PDF) Briefing paper n°3, June 2007: work progress in qualitative research (downloadable PDF) Briefing paper n°2, November 2006: presentation of intermediate research results Briefing paper n°1, June 2006: project presentation (downloadable PDF) Other downloadable publications Under this heading we present a series of articles written by SPReW research teams in order to disseminate the project results at national or international level. Some documents may be in their national language.
Documents of the European conference "Generations at work"
Introduction to the conference and presentation of the SPReW research Changes in the relation to work Generations at work : areas of solidarity and tensions Round table: societal relevance of the SPReW results Issues and challenges for generations at work: a vision from outside Europe Perspectives for a good management of generations at work Round table: practical implications of the SPReW results Closing speech Project co-ordinator Fondation Travail-Université (FTU) Project partners Centre for Social Research and
Intervention (CIS) - ISCTE Lisbon Fondazione
Pietro Seveso (FRPS) Institut Arbeit und Wirtschaft (IAW), University of Bremen Centre for European Employment Studies, Institute for Political Science of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA PTI), Budapest Social Development Agency (SDA), Agency of the European Trade Union Confederation Direction de l’Animation de la Recherche, des Etudes et des Statistiques (DARES), Centre d’Etude de l’Emploi (CEE), Paris
Consortium meeting in October 2006 in Paris. From left to right: Orsolya Polyacskó (MTA-PTI), John Cultiaux (FTU), Katalin Füleki (MTA-PTI), Götz Richter (IAW), Michal Wong (CEE), Julia Vajda (MTA-PTI), Alex Knop (IAW), Cinzia Sechi (SDA), Béatrice Delay (CEE), Patricia Vendramin (FTU), Dominique Méda (CEE), Gérard Valenduc (FTU), Lucie Davoine (CEE), Adele Lebano (FRPS), Paula Castro (CIS), Hélène Garner (DARES). European programmes and projects
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