ECS: European Company Survey

The European Company Surveys (ECS) are conducted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound). The European Company Survey (ECS) has been carried out regularly since its inception in 2004–2005 as the European Establishment Survey on Working Time and Work–Life Balance (ESWT). The second survey, under the new title European Company Survey, was completed in 2009, the third in 2013 and the fourth in 2019 in collaboration with Eurofound’s sister agency Cedefop. The main objectives of the survey are to:
- map, assess and quantify information on company policies and practices across Europe on an harmonised basis
- analyse relationships between company practices and their impact as well as looking at practices from the point of view of structures at company level, focusing in particular on social dialogue
- monitor trends
- contribute to the Agenda for Europe through mapping and understanding company policies and practices upon which Europe can build an economy that works for people, safeguarding EU core values – such as the importance of well-functioning dialogue – and fit for the digital age