Department of Trade and Industry

The Workplace Employee Relations Survey (WERS) series began in 1980 and was sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, the Economic and Social Research Council and the Policy Studies Institute. It was previously known as the Workplace Industrial Relations Survey (WIRS) and included surveys conducted in 1980, 1984 and 1990. In 1998, the name of the series was changed to better reflect the present content of the survey. Cross-sectional and panel WERS surveys were conducted in 1998.

The primary aim of the survey series is to provide statistically reliable, nationally representative data on the current state of workplace relations and employment practices in Britain. The National Centre for Social Research (formerly SCPR) has been responsible for sampling and statistical consultancy, the conduct of the fieldwork, coding and preparation of the final data.

The WERS98 Dissemination Service was established in October 1999 at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. The Service was funded for a two year period for the ESRC, and closed in January 2002. All major activity at the WERS Dissemination Service has now ceased, but the website will continue to remain live for the benefit of WERS98 users and those interested in WERS98.