Summary

The "QUEST" Project builds on extensive ongoing Finnish and UK research collaboration. This collaboration explores the relationship between work and well-being, and aims to open up new research frontiers with a view to meeting future challenges. The project examines the contradictory pressures for policies and practices towards both the inhibition and the enhancement of work-related well-being that are likely in growth industries. The overall aim is to evaluate the development, implementation and use of work-related well-being policies in growth industries, selected on the basis of EU and national forecasts, and socio-economic trends in employment. This project provides national and transnational data, analysis and outputs. The project aims:

1. To provide a systematic mapping and situational analysis of relevant work-related legislation and policies for well-being.
2. To identify which policies are in place, being used, monitored and evaluated, in key growth sectors.
3. To examine the interactions between work-related well-being policies, practices and cultures.
4. To identify the opportunities and barriers to the development of well-being policies and practices both formally and informally in the selected industries.
5. To examine how gender and other forms of social differentiation, including non-standard and standard employment, affect competitive advantage and well-being.
6. To examine how transnational processes and structures affect operation of growth industries and work-related, well-being policies.

Methods cover a) critical review of relevant documentary, policy, published literature and material not formally published; b) survey of companies contacted drawn through a quota sampling frame; c) 'portraits of practice' approach to include interviews, field notes and documentary analysis of policies in selected companies; and c) policy analysis and dissemination focus groups.