Wage payment systems surveys

Eurofound — European Foundation For The Improvement Of Living And Working Conditions

Description

Consolidated report
Working conditions

Sujets

• Workforce productivity
• Occupational safety and health
• Report
• European Communities
• Sociologie, société et politique

Informations

• Publié par: EUROFOUND-EUROPEAN-FOUNDATION-FOR-THE-IMPROVEMENT-OF-LIVING-AND-WORKING-CONDITIO
• Nombre de lectures: 7
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

european foundation
for the improvement of living and working conditions
WAGE PAYMENT SYSTEMS
SURVEYS
CONSOLIDATED REPORT m mm WAGE PAYMENT SYSTEMS
SURVEYS
CONSOLIDATED REPORT
EF / 83 / 28 / EN Copyright of THE EUROPEAN FOUNDATION FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING
AND WORKING CONDITIONS, 1982
For rights of translation or reproduction, application should be made
to the Director, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living
and Working Conditions, Loughlinstown House, Shankill, Co. Dublin,
Ireland. PREFACE
This volume is part of an inquiry on the Spread and Characteristics of
Wage Payment Systems in the Member States of the Community carried out
in the framework of the Foundation's programme of work for 1979 as
decided by the Administrative Board of the Foundation.
The inquiry, comprising nine national surveys and one synthesis report,
was a first step towards more detailed case studies on the impact of
the various systems of pay, especially incentive schemes. It was,
therefore, aimed at providing the necessary background for these studies,
which were undertaken as part of the Foundation's work programmes for
19791 I98O and I982 in accordance with decisions by the Administrative
Board.
On these grounds it was decided that the aims of the Foundation in
carrying out the national surveys be as follows :
(i) to give an over-all picture of the existing wage payment systems
in the nine countries, especially the incentive schemes;
(ii) to describe the developments during the last two decades and to
indicate new trends;
(iii) to assess the impact of the various incentive payment schemes
on working conditions and the work environment, production,
workers' income and the costs to the company, as well as the
interrelationship between stich systems and technology.
These aims were considered as maximum requirements and the expectations
with regard to obtaining information on the impact on payment schemes
were rather modest. However, considering that the national surveys
would serve as background information for further studies it was decided
to include all information already available on this item.
./.. - 2 -
The inquiry was carried out in three phases :
1) a report was drawn up by a research institute in each Member State;
2) a synthesis report based on the national reports was prepared by
the Foundation;
3) the set of reports was evaluated by representatives of the govern­
ments, the employers and the trade unions. Each group viewed the
analysis contained in the reports against the experience of its
respective members and, if appropriate, made proposals aimed at
improving the situation. Each group set down its opinion in the
form of a written evaluation report. This method reflects the
Foundation's regard for promoting research of a type which brings
together the experts' approach and the experience of those involved
practically in problems of working conditions.
The procedures followed in the inquiry on the Spread and Characteristics
of Wage Payment Systems is reflected in the composition of this volume
which contains Ï
1) the evaluation reports drawn up by representatives of governments,
trade unions and employers, based on working group meetings at a
seminar held in Dublin on 2 and 3 July 198l;
2) the synthesis report on the Spread and Characteristics of Wage
Payment Schemes in the Member States of the Community prepared by
the Foundation;
Specifically with regard to the evaluation report of the government
group the Foundation wishes to make the following observations :
a) the national reports are not all dated June and July 198O; they
were received between May I980 and March 198I and are dated
accordingly in most cases; - 3 -
b) the findings of the Structure of Earnings Survey from 1978/1979
prepared by the Statistical Office of the European Communities;
were not available at the time when the synthesis report was
drawn up between April and June I98I, and could, therefore, not
be taken into account. Owing to some delays these findings
were not even available in extenso at the end of I982. Only
in France where the national contribution to the Structure of
Earnings Survey seemed to be more advanced than in the other
Member States, it was possible to benefit from part of these
findings by delaying the report to the Foundation until the end
of March 198I.
The European Foundation wishes to emphasise that the analyses and
opinions contained in the studies carried out by the national
institutes and reflected in the synthesis report are the sole
responsibility of the authors concerned.