Employee participation law
Our employee participation law section is ranked in the top of its field in the Dutch legal profession. With a team of about ten specialized lawyers we support, assist and advise works councils and directors of a large number of businesses. They vary from medium-size businesses to listed concerns, both national and international, in the profit and non-profit sector, including government entities. We also support works councils and client councils.
Employee participation may bring relationships to a head. It often concerns complicated issues. The Works Councils Act (“Wet op de Ondernemingsraden”) provides rules for subjects that are sensitive and far-reaching for the enterprise and employees. Such as a take-over, reorganisation, restructuring, discontinuation or relocation of the enterprise, sometimes even abroad. But it also covers subjects such as pensions, privacy, labour conditions, remuneration systems or sustainable employability and the approach to absence due to sickness. And finally there are complex governance relations that increasingly demand more from works councils, directors and supervisory bodies.
Employee participation includes more than laws and regulations. For that reason we do not only focus on the legal side of the cases we take up, but on aspects of strategy and process as well. We have a hands-on attitude, work fast and are approachable. Decisiveness, etiquette and stamina are crucial for achieving objectives in complex and cumbersome processes. Using dialogue in many cases or litigating where necessary, that is what you may expect from us, in clear, understandable language.
We don’t keep our knowledge to ourselves and our clients but also share it with others. For instance with interest groups, works council advisors and trainers, in direct contacts, during training, in professional magazines and books.
Employee participation law, legal matters
The lawyers of our Employee participation law section negotiate, advise on and litigate about matters such as:
Consultation rights
- job changes
- organization changes
- relocation of enterprises
- investments
- obtaining or providing credits
- mergers and take-overs
- reorganisations and collective redundancies
- working conditions
- closure, bankruptcy or relaunch
- providing a consulting assignment
- appointment/dismissal of a director under the WOR
Right of consent
- pensions
- work schedules and holidays
- remuneration systems
- health and safety policy including prevention officer
- absence policy
- training policy
- assessment policy
- complaints policy
- privacy
- whistle-blower policy
Employee participation
- questions concerning works council elections
- setting up or changing employee participation structures
- primary of politics evaluation
- drawing up social plans, regulations and company-level agreements
- exclusion of a works council member
- litigating before the Enterprise Division of the court or subdistrict court
- initiation of mediation or conciliation
Sectieleden
De Voort Advocaten: Our approach
The approach followed by our lawyers and staff is characterized by:
- commitment: always bringing the best out of ourselves
- energy
- quick and accurate action
- doing business in style: honesty and sincerity
- co-operation: client, lawyers and support staff work together purposefully
Let’s excel together