The social performance of businesses

The Danish National Centre for Social Research annually conducts a survey of the social performance of Danish businesses. In this year's survey, we asked wage earners about their experience with, and attitudes towards, the social performance at their workplace. Danish wage earners are generally positive towards the social performance of businesses in relation to employment and retention of employees with reduced ability to work. However, there are groups of people for whom wage earners are less tolerant. One out of four wage earners do not want a colleague with non-Danish ethnic background with poor Danish skills. We are even more sceptical towards colleagues with mental disorders. The report shows that the elderly are generally more positive than young people when it comes to including marginalised groups in the labour market. However, there is a significant exception with regard to colleagues with non-Danish ethnic background. Here, young people are far more tolerant. This year's survey analyses people employed on special terms. Women account for 61% of people employed on special terms. 57% of all employees on special terms are between 45 and 54 years old, and 43% have no vocational qualifications. Moreover, people employed on special terms are primarily employed in the public sector. There are also differences between genders. Of the people employed on special terms, women are older and relatively well-educated, whereas men are younger and generally low-educated. This study was financed by the Ministry of Employment.