Defining managers
Although it is a fact that there is an increasing need for managers in the European economy, at European and international level there is still no consensus on how to define what a manager is.
In 1993 the European Parliament unanimously adopted the resolution presented by José Maria Gil Robles on the situation of managerial staff in the European Community. This resolution sets out four general factors common to managers, which are:
a) their qualifications,
b) the duties actually performed,
c) the status of managerial staff and the authority deriving from such status,
d) the content, the performance, and in some cases the disputes relating to their contracts of employment.
Most countries of the European Union have adopted the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO), which includes several categories of managers. But some countries such as France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and Switzerland have their own national socio-economic classification with their own understanding of what a manager is. Furthermore, a "European project of socio-economic classification - ESeC" inspired from employment relationships is also under discussion within the European statistical community. On the other hand, several countries have not yet established a specific category for managers in their classifications.
Managers have a special role to play in the companies: they are the bridge builders between the top-management and the workforce. Managers build a vision that gives coherence to the work and actions of all the workers of the company. Through their leadership skills, managers help everyone do their best. Thus managers´ role within companies should not be overlooked.
CEC keeps working on the recognition of managers, of their responsibilities and aspirations: