What subjects are discussed in the European social partners’ consultation on quality jobs, which you plan to mobilise around?

Well, CEC European Managers’ view is that there are certainly a great many subjects to be tackled at the same time. We’re planning to focus primarily on mental health and psychosocial risks. We believe that the key issue is that of establishing a genuine right to disconnect. These days, managers are particularly affected by tiredness linked to hyperconnectivity: many of them are constantly juggling two phones and two computers, and having to deal with an endless stream of calls and notifications, including via social media. The statistics are clear: this situation is giving rise to an increase in sick leave among the employees that we represent.
So, it’s essential to act at an upstream stage, through prevention and raising awareness among employers. We believe that a quality job is also one that is sustainable, stable and worthwhile, based on quality leadership. It should combine security, predictability, possibilities for career development and a respectful working environment.
We’ll also be emphasising the importance of training. Employers are calling for greater flexibility in the processes associated with cutting jobs, but once employees have left the company, it’s too late to act. Before any jobs are cut, it’s vital to plan for retraining schemes, so that employees can be guided into new occupations, especially those linked to the green and digital transitions.
We also need to improve our managerial skills. Here, we’re calling for managers to have their own personal training entitlement, to help them cope with the new demands they’re facing. Lastly — and this is a major item on our agenda — another factor in creating quality jobs is improving social dialogue around work organisation. In some countries, this dialogue is a reality: employers consult with employee representatives on this issue and sometimes even work with them in designing their systems. That arrangement works, by enhancing job quality in concrete terms. However, it’s not the case everywhere, which is why we really must have a European Union initiative to encourage employers to work with us in tackling current and future transformations.
(Published in IR Notes 264 - 17 December 2025)