Managerial practices appear “more vertical” in France than in its European neighbors. According to a report Published this Friday, March 28 by the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs (IGAS), our country finds itself in a “unflattering” position.
The report aimed to analyze the effects of corporate managerial practices on social policies, which can be measured via the employment rate, absenteeism or the feeling of loss of meaning at work. To do this, the authors compared the situation of France with Germany, Italy, Sweden and Ireland.
They first make the “counter-intuitive” observation that the criteria of quality management are very “convergent” whatever the country, the sector of activity or the size of the companies. “Good management […] is everywhere, and first of all, described as that which is characterized by a high degree of participation of workers, on the one hand, and which ensures the recognition of the work accomplished, on the other hand “, indicates the report. Other” fundamental features “are added to it as the autonomy or the” decentralization of the decision “.
“Mediocre” results
The comparative examination of managerial practices “places France in an unflattering position compared to its neighbors,” said Igas.
“French managerial practices appear very vertical and hierarchical”, recognition of work is “much lower” than in other countries studied and the training of managers is “very academic”, continues the report, pointing out “mediocre” results in the management field.
The authors note that the countries studied face “close managerial challenges”, citing the crisis of meaning at work, the supervision of teams in hybrid mode, or taking into account major demographic, technological and ecological transitions.
The place allocated to social dialogue “differentiates” countries, it having in France a “more limited impact on managerial practices”.
The IGAS makes a series of recommendations, such as developing managers training or strengthening their support, the possibility of registering managerial practices in the themes of compulsory social dialogue or “extending CSE’s powers in terms of work organization”. The report also recommends reflections on the question of management which could lead to a national interprofessional agreement (Ani).