Conference Programme

Wednesday October 9th 1996
13.30 Welcome
15.30 Opening Session
16.00 Is it possible in the current climate of economic and social uncertainty for the workplace to remain a place of learning and cooperation? P. Bernoux, Sociologist
17.30 Coffee break
17.45 Workshops. How does the social worker use his knowledge of the company and family life in order to help people understand these different systems
19.30 Dinner

Thursday October 10th 1996
08.45 How can the employee cope with the demands of his professional life as well as varies home pressures? P. Nicolaslestrat, PhD, consultant.
10.15 Coffee break
10.30 Presentation of workshop discussions
11.45 Workshops.
12.15 Lunch
14.00 How can an individual survive today without the personal recognition of his superior, his colleagues or his company. By E. Henriquez, Sociology lecturer.
16.15 Break
16.30 Analysys of social policies in European countries. By A. Malet, social worker. Reporter to the European Social Commission.
17.30 ENDS General Meeting
19.30 Dinner

Friday October llth 1996
09.00 Departure to visit companies
12.30 Lunch
14.00 Workshops: Prevention of the breakdown of interpersonal relationships.
15.45 Coffee break
16.00 Conclusions, F. Ginsbourger, Economist.
18.00 Aperitif at the townhall
19.30 Closing Congress dinner.

Summary

This conference reflects the reality of many of today's work environments increasing work demands: pressures to meet fixed targets, social relationships coming under stress and social isolation an increased risk. The workforce is being asked to become increasingly flexible and mobile, often without any compensatory benefits.

Stress at work is compounded by other concerns in the employees life: anxiety about their children's future, concern about the stability of relationships, and problems associated with family breakdown.

How can the employee cope with the demands of his professional life as well as with various home pressures?
New organisational concepts make heavy demands on employees, requiring greater flexibility, stretching to the limit their motivation and their readiness to take on more responsibilities. These new concepts, such as project-aimed management and performance-related pay have now become familiar, whereas their effects on the individual in the workplace are less well known. This stress at work is compounded by other concerns in the employees life. What might be the consequences of the accumulation of these demands and uncertainties?
In this context the importance of the interpersonal work relationship, involving communication, support and cooperation becomes self evident.
What are the implications for osw? As social cohesion comes under greater pressure, the necessary connections fail.to occur and this leads to an incidence of "drop-outs" within the workforce. The osw can work effectively in reintgra-ting those who have become isolated and can contribute toward the restoration of social cohesion. There is a direct relationship between the degree of social cohesion and the degree of flexibility of the individual worker. A strong aspect of this conference was the standard of the speeches, which stimulated the participants to think on an abstract level. The speakers were drawing on European experiences and knowledge.

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