The aim of the NWCS is to investigate the quality of work and employment in the Netherlands. A large and representative random sample of employees is taken yearly. The NWCS tracks trends in work risks, the effects of those risks and the measures taken by employers. The NWCS data are also used to analyze the relationship between work and health. We provide employers’ organizations, unions and the Ministry of Social affairs and Employment with national reference data for the purpose of occupational health and safety covenants.

Content

A selection of subjects covered in the survey:

• working hours, overtime, evening, night and weekend work
• work pressure, cognitive demands, emotional demands, computer work
• physical strain, work-related noise, dangerous and dirty work, safety culture
• workplace violence and discrimination
• health, chronic illness, burn-out, RSI
• absence and accidents at work, occupational health care
• productivity/functioning
• terms of employment
• work-home interference

In addition to the yearly cross-sectional surveys, the Netherlands Working Conditions Cohort Study (NWCCS) 2007-2009 is available for research. This longitudinal database is used to give more insight into cause and effect relations.

Partners involved in the NWCS

TNO undertakes coordination and reporting. Since 2005 this has been done in close collaboration with Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Market researcher Intomart GfK gathers the data. Statistics Netherlands provides the sampling framework for the survey, and links NWCS data - with full anonymity - to other large CBS databases.