Overview

European countries face common challenges in ensuring a well-performing health workforce in times of existing and projected shortages. Among the multiple aspects that determine the supply and performance of health workers, the work environment plays a critical role. This policy brief considers policy approaches that can be employed to help create positive work environments, thus improving the recruitment and retention of health professionals and contributing to the achievement of high-quality health services. Work-environment issues generally apply to all health workers in all types of health services – with variations according to the characteristics of professional functions or work settings. Without excluding their relevance for other professional groups in the health sector, this policy brief focuses on approaches for physicians and nurses, as they represent the largest constituents of the health workforce.