Workers’ Involvement at the workplace and Job Quality in Europe

Abstract

The paper focuses on workplace practices aimed at increasing workers’ direct voice, a job quality dimension in the European Employment Strategy for which there are no agreed indicators. It offers an analysis of the theories, debate and research on the impact of workers’ direct participation on jobs’ quality and quantity, including its interaction and tensions with representative participation. It also reviews the main databases available and offers a meta-analysis on the extension of direct participation in a range of European countries. Finally, it reflects on issues for future research.