Goals

Main targets:

• In the debate and in the welfare reforms at what level of action are companies placed? How much does the business-unions-governments model still exist? How much are they willing to support a ‘ socialisation of risk ‘ and for what reasons?
• How much do companies support the need for collective action? In relation to social policies, are multinationals becoming rule makers in terms of individual action or in some cases (which ones?) they also prefer to act collectively?
• In relation to social policy preferences, are there differences between manufacturing and the service sector and within these sectors?
• What is the role played by the EU level as a field for companies to foster their social policy preferences and to discuss with institutions and trade unions? In this respect, how does the interaction among different national business associations work at the EU level (e.g. Business Europe)?

In the context of Covid-19, a further research question on the employers’ preferences and strategies in the aftermath of the pandemic has emerged:

• Is there any change in both employers’ and their organisations’ preferences and strategies in the context of the pandemic crisis?