As a Works Council, you have a relationship with the Bestuurder (Director) of the organisation, the management board. It can be good or bad, but it is a relationship nevertheless. How do you benefit the most from this relationship?

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a relationship? what do you mean?

As a Works Council or Director, there are two ways of thinking about each other. Either you think "we are forced to deal with each other" or "together we create the best possible organisation". No matter how you look at it, there is a relationship.

You may dislike each other, but you will still have to talk to each other. Or, in other cases, you don't dare to say anything other than "yes" because you are afraid that the other person will get angry.

If you feel that way, how should you deal with this? What can you do about it? And what kind of relationship do you want to develop between the Works Council and the Director?

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the law is the minimum

Of course, everything starts with the Works Councils Act (WOR). This law details what you must and can do. It contains the rules for both the Works Council and the Director. It is the minimal basis of a relationship.

When the Works Council or the Director says things such as "according to article X, section Y, a letter should be sent stating that…" or "If you do not respond before date X, I will implement the decision according to the WOR", that is not employee participation. This is imposing the rules.

You have to ask yourself whether, by imposing the rules, by 'performing a kind of ritual dance together', you achieve what you want. After all, the Works Council is there "to ensure the best performance of the organisation in all its objectives" (WOR, Article 2) (Dutch).