oa Werkdruk in Nederland en Vlaanderen vergeleken en verklaard

Work pressure in The Netherlands and Flanders compared and explained

According to the European Survey on Working Conditions, carried out by the European Foundation in Dublin, The Netherlands had one of the highest levels of work pressure in Europe during the period 1992-2000. However, a comparison of two sample surveys held among Dutch and Flemish employees in 2001, showed a higher work pressure level in Flanders. At the end of 2003 and the beginning of 2004 two new major surveys on working conditions were conducted in the Netherlands and Flanders: the Netherlands Working Conditions Survey and the Working Conditions Monitor in Flanders. Respectively 10,000 and 12,000 employees took part in these surveys. The results were used as a basis to find an answer to the following central question whether the Dutch or the Flemish are more subject to work pressure and which factors determine the difference. Both surveys make it possible to answer these questions because they are representative of The Netherlands and Flanders, they use identical questions for work pressure and were carried out in the same period. We conclude that work pressure is slightly higher in Flanders. The higher number of overtime hours and lower level of job autonomy in Flanders are the most important determinants found to explain the differences. No indications have been found that would suggest that the concept of work pressure is perceived differently in Flanders and the Netherlands.