Joe Lynam

One of the clear differences between American and European workplaces are the social protections over here.

Longer maternity leave, more holidays and sick pay, as well as more generous workplace pensions.

But America is growing faster and its citizens are becoming richer than us on average.

So is it time we diluted some of the generous extras we take for granted here in order to boost incomes?

It was one of the themes this week at the EU's workplace research agency Eurofound, which is tucked away in Loughlinstown.

And Ifeilo Kalfin is the executive director of Eurofound and is sitting in front of you.

Good morning, Ifeilo.

Good morning, Joe.

Remind us what Eurofound does.

And this week, you're marking your 50th anniversary in Ireland with a big discussion about the European social model.

And the Taoiseach went to visit you guys as well.

What was the discussion about that social model?

Do you think...

that the social model might be too generous in Europe?

That's what it costs for not having women in the workplace.

In other words, you must work, otherwise you're really, really going to struggle, i.e.

potentially starve.

We in Europe don't allow that.

There is this kind of protection underneath them.

But the Americans have seen more growth.