Understanding the quality of the working environment: Main issues and interpretative models

This chapter considers the relevance for policy development of well-designed data to map and monitor the quality of the working environment. It presents evidence about three issues of importance for designing and implementing adequate policies. First, it examines whether there are significant inequalities in working conditions between different groups of workers. Second, it assesses the implications of the quality of the working environment for workers’ psychological and physical health and well-being with the help of the three main theoretical frameworks used in research. Third, it reviews evidence on how the quality of the working environment affects workers’ attitudes to work and their performance on the job.