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LEXICON

Nota Bene :Each time a definition of the corresponding concepts existed in the European Industrial Relations Dictionary of the Dublin Foundation, we simply recalled this definition. In absence of definition, we mentioned the definition of the Lexicon developed by the French Observatory “Observia”.

Adaptability
Adaptability is one of the four pillars of the “European Employment Strategy”. It covers adaptability in terms of organization of work, working patterns and contracts, as well as adaptability in terms of regulatory and training systems. It recognizes that a balance must be struck between the need of business for flexibility and the needs of employees for security and employability (European industrial relations dictionary – Dublin Foundation – so-called “Eurofound dictionary”).

Employability
Employability is a concept referring to terms used to assess the ability of a person to access a job (Eurofound dictionary).

Employee
An employee is a party to an employment relationship characterised as a contract of employment between the employer and the employee. This is one of the different legal formulations of the concept of “worker”. (Eurofound dictionary).

Employer
An employer is a party to an employment relationship characterised as a contract of employment between the employer and the employee. However while the employee retains a human identity, the employer often has a corporate legal personality (Eurofound dictionary).

Employment
Work situation relating to several posts/positions having common characteristics in terms of activities and skills (France-Observia).

Flexibility
The concept of “Flexibility” includes three dimensions:
. employers’ desire for variable labour inputs in terms of numbers employed or hours worked to match changes in demand for products or services.
. employees’ desire for variable contractual arrangements and working conditions to match changing private or domestic needs.
. it is also often presented in the EU context as a policy response to “labour market rigidities”. (Eurofound dictionary)

Flexicurity
Flexicurity is reported as “an optimal balance between labour market flexibility and security for employees against labour market risks” (Eurofound Dictionary – European Commission report on Employment in Europe)

Gateway
A gateway determines the possibilities of moving from one trade to another. In effect, common skills exist between certain trades which do not involve retraining.
=> A short gateway corresponds to a short adaptation time in the field and a short training period. Beyond that, it is more of a change of job or speciality within the same trade.
=> A long gateway presupposes an investment in theoretical training, usually undertaken before mobility. Beyond that, it would be more a question of retraining. (Observia)

Job
A job is a collection of activities. These are carried out within the context of procedures, assigned to a specific workplace using the resources made available. A job directly depends on the structure of the basic unit (department, workshop, line, etc.) to which it is assigned (Observia).

Know-how/ knowledge
Collection of theoretical and practical knowledge acquired through study or experience. Knowledge is not limited to academic knowledge; it can be acquired throughout one’s life. It may be required for a trade, acquired by a person, accompanied or not by a certificate (diploma, title, etc). (Observia).

Lifelong learning
All learning activity undertaken throughout life, with the aim of improving knowledge, skills and competence, within a personal, civic, social and/or employment-related perspective (Commission Communication of December 1997 - Eurofound dictionary)

Occupational family
Group of occupations directed towards the same type of objectives and activities within the company (Observia)..

Professional career
The professional career identifies a path from a “source” trade to a “target” trade. In particular, it indicates the different successive employment possibilities whose skill requirements are complementary and can be finalised on the basis of an employee’s professional plan (Collection Formation Permanente en Sciences Humaines).

Professional know-how
Ability to use knowledge, know-how and behaviour in a professional situation in order to solve more or less complex problems in a work situation in order to carry out trade activities (Observia).

Professional mobility
Mobility of workers in a European-wide labour market has been a primary objective since the creation of the European Community (see Art. 39 of the EC Treaty). A Communication from the European Commission on “Mobility, an instrument for more and better jobs” was issued in 2007. It is also central to the priorities of the 2007-2010 Action Plan and the New Phase of the Lisbon Strategy (2008-2010). (Source: Eurofound dictionary).

Position
Work situation defined in terms of assignment. Several positions can correspond to the same type of employment (Observia).

Qualification
Some directives have been issued for the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications. However automatic recognition of diplomas is provided for in only a few professions, mainly in health (Eurofound dictionary).

Seasonal work
Seasonal work is a form of temporary employment linked to specific periods of the year and sectors (Eurofound dictionary). For example in the sugar sector during the campaign period.

Skills
Recognised ability in such and such a field by reason of knowledge possessed (from French Larousse dictionary)– (See Aptitudes – Qualifications).

Trade
Collection of jobs, posts or work situations within the company in which the activities and professional skills are identical or similar (Observia).