Credit: CSL

Luxembourg's Chamber of Employees (Chambre des Salariés - CSL) recently unveiled the results of the 2024 Quality of Work Index Luxembourg (QoW), carried out in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg.

The findings, which give an overview of private sector working conditions and work life in the Grand Duchy, are based on data collected between June and September 2024, from 2,931 people aged sixteen to 64 in regular employment of ten hours or more per week.

The topics discussed in the QoW study include working hours, work flexibility, physical and mental demands, stress levels at work, collaboration with colleagues, professional development opportunities and promotion, salary satisfaction, assessment of work-life balance, job satisfaction and assessment of health and well-being.

The main findings of the study showed that the assessment of work quality among employees did not change significantly in 2024, despite a continued slight decline in recent years. Higher level professions reported a higher work quality level whereas employees in service, retail and industrial jobs reported the lowest scores. Job satisfaction and work motivation scores are reported to be lower than pre-Covid levels. Job security, however, improved in 2024.

Health issues relating to work remain worrying. Mental health issues including depression, stress and sleep disorders were reported among employees. 26% of employees reported sleep disorders. For the second year in a row, an increase in levels of severe depression among the workforce was noted. Those who work irregular or late shifts are most at risk. Lower levels of burnout were reported in 2024, but this figure was still 14.6% higher than in 2014. The study noted that psychological distress affects 51% of employees, with 35% of women reporting a high level of distress, compared to 24% of men. Younger workers, aged 25 to 44, appeared to be the most affected.

The study indicated that the average commute is almost 45 minutes. Cross-border workers are on the road for four hours more than their Luxembourg resident colleagues. 32% of the 2024 workforce work from home and have higher quality scores than those who work on-site. Up to 60% of managers and executives feel under pressure to be contactable outside of working hours, whereas only 13% of administrative employees felt the same.

Moreover, the study found that 24% of employees smoke, which includes 36% of sixteen- to 24-year-olds and 35% of manual labourers. 13% of employees reported that they were affected by passive smoking at work. The study also indicated that 10% of employees misuse alcohol at work, with those working in the financial sector reported to be at greatest risk.

Preventative health programmes were described as being inadequate in many work settings, with only 12% of employees seeking help as a result of issues at work.

Recommendations based on the study's findings included ensuring fair pay and benefits, improving prevention measures, which should be supported by occupational health services, as well as better workplace health programmes including support for mental health issues. The CSL also recommended flexible working times, both from a work-life balance perspective as well as to ease commuting times for employees.

The CSL noted that policy changes and government interventions are necessary to improve and maintain the well-being of employees.

HOM