2020 EPO Staff Survey

Technologia, the company responsible for conducting the 2020 edition of the EPO Staff Survey (and the 3 previous ones in 2010, 2013 and 2016) has provided us with their preliminary results. 27% of EPO staff participated in the 2020 survey, which is lower than the participation rate in 2016 (39%). This is not surprising, however, given the major disturbance created by the covid-19 pandemic. Fortunately the participation rate remains sufficiently high to provide valid and relevant information.

Without wishing to draw hasty conclusions, a few things are already clear: - The trend is generally worrying; - Staff health is negatively affected by their work in the Office (63% of respondents consider that their current work life has a negative impact on their health). More alarming: 7% are in psychological distress; - The imbalance between the importance of quality and quantity remains a cause for concern; Unsurprisingly, the meaning of the work remains low; - Confidence in management remains very low. The level of trust generally decreases as the hierarchical levels increase; After about 2 years at the head of the EPO, Campinos scores 3% as regards confidence, a level which is even lower than the 5% obtained by Battistelli in 2013 after 3 years at the head of the Office. Trust in staff representatives remains very high.

If Campinos’ intention was to appease the EPO staff and restore confidence in management, then he has failed miserably. The way management is (ab)using the current pandemic will not help to improve the situation. Should management decide to pay attention to the results of the 2020 survey, we can bet that they will conclude – once again – that it is only a question of communication...

SUEPO will of course publish the full results and the analysis of Technologia as soon as available.