Tag archives: works council

Remuneration of works councils: Liability trap for HR managers

The remuneration of employee representatives on works councils is intended to save employers money and at the same time ensure cooperation based on trust. In a recent decision, the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH, 10.01.2023 – 6 StR 133/22) sets strict requirements for the legality of the level of such remuneration and does not … Continue reading

The new German Works Council Modernization Act

By Frank Weberndörfer and Claudia Posluschny on September 21, 2021 Posted in Europe, General, Germany

The “Act to Promote Works Council Elections and Works Council Activities in a Digital Working World” (Betriebsrätemodernisierungsgesetz – Works Council Modernization Act) came into force on June 18, 2021. The Act is intended to facilitate the activities of works councils and to strengthen the co-determination rights of works councils with regard to the use of … Continue reading

Management and foreign languages: Communication with the works council

By Frank Weberndörfer on August 19, 2020 Posted in Europe, General, Germany

Managers of international companies are often confronted with the problem of having to communicate with their employees and the works council in a foreign language that they do not fully master. This can easily lead to conflicts. In a recent decision in June, the Nuremberg Regional Labor Court (ref. 1 TaBV 33/19) has now clarified the scope. The … Continue reading

COVID-19 / Germany: Admissible measures and co-determination rights

By Frank Weberndörfer on March 20, 2020 Posted in Contracts, Coronavirus, Europe, General, Germany

The rapid spread of COVID-19 within Europe and the beginning of the pandemic have led many of our clients to consider how employees and, if necessary, customers can be protected against any further spread of the infection and which employment law related measures should they be taking. We have summarised and answered the main questions … Continue reading

French employment code reform: Focus on the social and economic committee

By Elodie Grangier and François Guillon on January 26, 2018 Posted in Europe, France

French President Emmanuel Macron has signed five ordinances making important changes to several aspects of the French employment code. The ordinances, which were immediately published in the French Official Journal on September 23rd, 2017, are aimed in particular at providing employers more flexibility and predictability in labour-management relations. They were supplemented by a number of … Continue reading

What rights does an employer have to suspend an employee in Germany?

By Maria Siemens on December 11, 2017 Posted in Europe, Germany

Under German law, an employer can only suspend an employee in certain cases. One of the core obligations of the employment relationship is an obligation on the employer to provide the employee with relevant work to be performed. If it fails to do so without justification, it must nevertheless continue to pay the employee. Notwithstanding … Continue reading

Collective consultation on redundancy – what obligations do employers have?

By Andreas Reuther on March 5, 2015 Posted in Europe, Germany

In Germany, an employer must comply with certain consultation obligations when dismissing an employee. Failure to do so may result in the dismissal being held null and void by a labour court or the court awarding compensation to the affected employees. The works council and dismissals Prior to giving notice of termination, an employer must … Continue reading

Collective consultation on redundancy – what obligations do employers have in France

By Judicaël Fouquet on February 25, 2015 Posted in Europe, France

General comments Under French employment law, employees’ representatives benefit from a right to be consulted on a very wide range of matters concerning the running of the company. In particular, the works council must be informed and consulted on any matter relating to the organisation, the management and the general running of the company, which … Continue reading

Unlimited term for members of the works council – part two

By on July 14, 2014 Posted in Contracts, Europe, Germany

As discussed in my post of 28 May 2014, the German Federal Labour Court was about to decide on a case where a member of the works council claimed against her employer for an employment unlimited in time after the expiration of her agreed fixed-term employment contract. The decision is now available. The Federal Labour … Continue reading

Unlimited term for members of the works council?

By on May 28, 2014 Posted in Contracts, Europe, Germany

Recently, a German Higher Labour Court had to decide on the following question: Where an employee becomes a member of the works council during his/her fixed term, is or can an employment unlimited in time be created automatically at the end of that fixed term? Generally speaking, an employer can agree a fixed term for … Continue reading

Do agency workers count as employees at the hirer’s business?

By Bettina Goletz on April 16, 2013 Posted in Europe, Germany

In Germany, a number of employees’ rights and employers’ obligations depend on specific thresholds regarding the number of employees assigned to a business unit or a company. The German Federal Labour Court recently decided two cases with regard to agency workers and their effect on dismissal protection and on the number of works council members … Continue reading