Management, European Works Councils and institutional malleability

Abstract

We show that most managers responsible for European Works Councils do not comply with the information and consultation requirements stipulated in legislation, and cite stock market regulations as the principal reason for non-compliance. Compared to employee representatives, managers also downplay the importance of articulation between European Works Councils and national institutions of labour representation, using them to achieve managerial objectives. We thus illustrate the ‘malleability’ of European Works Councils and argue that further regulatory intervention is required if they are to function as information and consultation institutions as originally intended by EU policy makers.