The European Social Observatory successfully secured the two-year (2021-2023) European research project on the 'Impact of digitalisation on job quality and social dialogue in the public services' (DIGIQU@LPUB). The project is funded through the European Commission budget line 'Improving expertise in the field of industrial relations' (VP/2020/004).
In recent years, public service workers are increasingly using connected organising tools and methods that shape the way their job tasks are organised, implemented, scheduled, controlled, and ultimately benefit public service users. The research project, led by the OSE, aims at improving understanding of the impact of digitalisation on job quality in the public services, by highlighting the perceptions that workers themselves have of the changes generated by digitalisation in the performance of their daily tasks. It also aims at raising awareness among trade unions and decisionmakers of the consequences of the digital transition of work for the public services.
At the core of the project are eight case studies in as many countries: Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Spain. The focus is on three public service’ sectors: electricity suppliers, public administrations (national/regional/local governments) and hospitals (healthcare services). The DIGIQU@LPUB partnership brings together twelve institutions across the EU: the European Social Observatory (BE), European Public Services Union (EU); Fondazione Giuseppe di Vittorio (IT); Scuola Universitaria superior Pisa (IT); Aalborg University (DK); Secafi – Groupe Alpha (FR); Institut Arbeit und Technik (DE); Institute of Public Affairs (PL); IRES Emilia Romagna (IT); Fundación 1 º de Mayo (ES); ÉTOSZ (HU); University of Turku (FI). OSE researchers involved: Ramón Peña-Casas (Project leader), Dalila Ghailani, Angelina Atanasova, Bart Vanhercke.
