WORK COUNCILS Flashcards
What are work councils
Work councils are a group made of employee and management representatives who meet regularly to discuss the day to day running of a business.
What are examples of work councils
Reviewing corporate objectives and strategies
Putting forward opinions of workforce
Discussing operational issues
Health and safety concerns
Customer issues
Helpful fact
It is a legal requirement for businesses with over 1,000 employees with operations in 2 or more EU countries to have a work council
What benefits do work councils have for the business
Provides a non - combative arena in which to communicate with the workforce
Allows for better communication from the workforce
More creative and innovation
Better motivation of the workforce
What costs do work councils have for businesses
For some businesses it is a legal requirement - is it a ‘box ticking exercise’? - is it just something that the managers look at as something that needs to be done, so they do it without giving it much thought.
Management time
What benefits do work councils have for employees
Helps to understand strategic plans and objectives
Contributes to the running of the business
What costs do work councils have for employees
Does not directly discuss pay or conditions
May not be fully representative if employee representatives are chosen by management
What is the key to work councils being effective
The key thing here is about increasing employee involvement, if it’s done well it can be effective, but if it’s perceived as a box ticking exercise, then it most likely won’t work.
