Employee participation at company level: institutions, articulation and challenges

Abstract

Employee participation at company level is one of the core institutions of what can be called the ‘European social model’, based on national regulations and regulations at EU level, such as the directives on European Works Councils (EWCs) and the Societas Europaea (SE). This process of institutionalisation coincides with fundamental changes in the current era of globalisation and transformation, which increase the importance of the company level for employee participation. We argue that this development highlights the problem of articulation within the multi-level system of employee participation. By comparing institutions of participation at national – we include the cases of France, Germany, Spain and Sweden – and at EU level we analyse whether and how these institutions create opportunities to influence company decisions by giving voice to workers’ representatives. In doing so we identify good practices and, on that basis, develop policy recommendations to strengthen the articulation of employee representation at company level.