@inproceedings{01HBX0TGA8SKPHQPSGKWJZTTM3,
  abstract     = {{What? My doctoral thesis had the ambition to analyse the relationship between the employment conditions, related management culture, and the general (mental and physical) wellbeing of the European cockpit and cabin crew and whether the latter affects safety (behaviour) in the professional context.

How? The research is conducted from the point of view of the employees/ workers, and consists of an extensive literature study and dissection of the existing legal framework but is mainly based on different, self-gathered, datasets (dating from the year 2014 until 2023) and associated statistical analysis.

Why? Results do show a lack of upgrade in working conditions and the employment context of the European aircrew in the last 10 years, even more we can state that the Green transition and the Covid-19 crisis have put extra stressors and strain on wages, job security, working conditions and resulted in an even more pronounced dehumanizing management style. These elements know a significant effect on the mental and physical wellbeing of the workers, in a strikingly negative tendency, even with a heightened focus and awareness of the possible impact on safety.  We did question possible positive influences, besides humanization and colleague support. Evidence from our research determines union satisfaction to be an important and significant buffer. The importance of an active negotiation culture, acknowledgment of the trade unions and social dialogue in aviation should therefore not be underestimated, moreover in the context of safety.

Where to go? Safety is the cornerstone of the aviation industry and has known a primarily technical approach until recent years. Where academics and interest groups, such as trade unions, detect the importance of the human capital and the fostering of quality employment to gain in safety, management of airline companies do not recognize this correlation at this point. Our data does, however, affirm the relationship between stressed wellbeing and diminished results for safety (behaviour). Safety is associated with a complex combination of factors, but management factors resulting in a more favorable employment situation seem to create the most conducive environment for aviation safety.}},
  author       = {{Valcke, Lien}},
  booktitle    = {{Research Day Law and Criminology 2023}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{Ghent, Belgium}},
  title        = {{Happiness in the Sky? (Atypical) employment, job-related wellbeing in European cockpit and cabin crew, and the relationship with safety (behaviour)}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8337399}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}

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