Solidarity and well-being, common denominators of social action for government employees

“Directly or indirectly improving the employment, working and living conditions of staff and their families, by helping them cope with difficult situations and facilitating their access to various community services”: this is the definition of social action in the French civil service. Social action, financed by the government, largely entails the provision of services in exchange for a contribution by employees.

Looking at practices in other countries, we note that the economic and organisational models and the scope for social action are different in almost every country.

In Belgium, Spain or Switzerland, social action is piloted by the government, which, if necessary, delegates tasks to a non-profit organisation. As in France, labour unions are represented in management committees.

Some countries manage their catering and housing services in-house, but outsource other services through grants:

• In Germany (and in Austria), Sozialwerke are non-profit organisations that mainly focus on holiday and leisure activities. However, some Sozialwerke offer financial support to their members for childcare, as well as support for retired staff and staff with disabilities.

• In the United Kingdom, Charities for Civil Servants are charities advising and assisting all public employees free of charge in solving the (personal and financial) difficulties they may encounter. Only leisure activities are subject to a contribution by employees. In Ireland, the Public Service Friendly Society (PSFS) offers similar assistance to its members.

In Italy, social action is the sole responsibility of a central government entity for social benefits (INPDAP for the public sector, which was integrated into INPS in 2011, while continuing to manage separately the rights of public employees who can benefit from housing assistance, emergency loans and scholarships for their children).

In the countries of northern Europe (the Netherlands and Scandinavia), certain social action benefits that are specific to the public sector — which supplement or replace those already available to all citizens — must be negotiated with professional organisations and must be specifically mentioned in collective agreements.

Across the Atlantic (Canada and the United States), social action — organised by public-sector employers — takes the form of assistance programmes and assistance to employees financed by the government. Professional associations and/or labour unions offer specially-negotiated rates for certain market services (insurance and banking, leisure, etc.). Australia and New Zealand have similar models.

Changing lifestyles increasingly affect employees’ expectations and needs in terms of social action. Such benefit programmes can be a genuine source of attractiveness for public-sector employment provided it is subject to innovation and adaptation, as shown in one section of a European study carried out by the University of Rotterdam as part of the LIPSE project.