Abstract

The positive relationship between the quality of the work environment, and workers’ performance is a well-known issue. But what is the difference between a healthy and welcoming workplace and a hostile and discriminating one? This article, using data coming from two INAPP surveys on the quality of work (carried out in 2010 and 2015) is aimed at describing the Italian workplaces by focusing on the social climate with respect to: job satisfaction; relationships with colleagues and supervisors; skills mismatch; and presence of discrimination and harassment. Furthermore, for some variables, workers’ perception is compared with the employers’ view. In a timespan of profound economic, social, and cultural transformations, the paper reflects on this complexity in an attempt to provide food for thought in both analytical and policy terms.