• Spring naar de hoofdnavigatie
  • Door naar de hoofd inhoud
  • Spring naar de eerste sidebar
Logo CT2 2018

  • over ons
    • artikelen
    • eBooks
    • video’s
    • CT² team
    • klantverhalen
    • contact
  • training
    • training door CT²
    • OR-training
  • coaching
    • directie coaching
    • personal coaching
    • groepscoaching
    • CT² methode
  • ondernemingsraad
    • maatwerk OR-training
    • OR-coaching
    • OR adviestrajecten
    • eBooks OR
    • CT² kiosk: OR-nieuws
    • de WOR
    • wat vindt de klant
  • contact
Logo CT2 2018

  • over ons
    • artikelen
    • eBooks
    • video’s
    • CT² team
    • klantverhalen
    • contact
  • training
    • training door CT²
    • OR-training
  • coaching
    • directie coaching
    • personal coaching
    • groepscoaching
    • CT² methode
  • ondernemingsraad
    • maatwerk OR-training
    • OR-coaching
    • OR adviestrajecten
    • eBooks OR
    • CT² kiosk: OR-nieuws
    • de WOR
    • wat vindt de klant
  • contact

the Works Council hires a consultant; how does that work?

26 november 2019 |

The Works Council is independent and legally has the option to hire an external consultant. But how do you do that as a Works Council?

– klik hier voor de Nederlandse versie van deze tekst –

the Works Council hires a consultant how does that workthe independent works council

In every aspect, the Works Councils Act (WOR) is aimed at making the Works Council as independent as possible. That is why all the costs (Dutch) of the Works Council that are incurred to perform work for the Works Council are to be paid by the Director. Also, the Director must provide all facilities and pay the wages (Dutch) for the Works Council members covering the work for the Works Council, because if you were to pay that for yourself as a Works Council member, you would not be free and independent to do the Works Council work.

the costs of Works Council training / Works Council off-site team days

Although the WOR still calls it ‘education and training’ (Dutch) of the Works Council, we mean Works Council training or Works Council off-site team days. The Works Council is allowed to take 5 training or off-site team days a year, compensated by the Director. The article ‘guideline amount for Works Council training: determined by the SER’ provides you with more information about the amounts you are entitled to.

“when does the Works Council hire an expert?”

The legislator also understands that as a Works Council, you cannot always know everything you need to know, as the management of the organisation may do. And doesn’t the Director also regularly hire external offices or experts to consult them?

If the Works Council thinks that it is difficult to have a well-founded opinion about something or if the Works Council simply does not understand something, it has the right to hire an expert (Dutch).

Many Directors will say that the Director who wrote the request for advice or the HR manager who made the plan can also explain everything to the Works Council. The question here is: is this explanation independent? And can you, as the Works Council, ask the necessary questions about that?

“what kind of experts can the Works Council hire?”

As a Works Council, you can hire all kinds of experts that you consider necessary, within reason. A few of the possibilities:

    • process facilitator
    • lawyer (with specific expertise)
    • pension expert
    • financial advisor
    • strategic advisor
  • organisation psychologist
  • HR consultant
  • ARBO advisor
  • negotiation expert
  • communication expert
  • procedure supervisor

“in which situations do I hire an expert?”

This is very straightforward; if you, as Works Council, think that it is necessary, you hire an expert. Typical situations where Works Councils hire an expert, in random order, are:

  • request for advice
  • request for consent
  • significant change processes
  • mergers
  • redesign of the organisation chart
  • budget assessments
    • sale
    • retirement scheme (changes)
    • outsourcing
    • collaborations with other
      organisations
    • appointment of a new director

“How do I find the (best) expert for the Works Council?”

Ask your Works Council trainer, ask fellow Works Council members, check the internet. These are actually the most straightforward ways to find an expert. But always make sure you conduct a thorough intake interview with the expert before you hire them. The expert must understand you as a Works Council member, understand the organisation and know what your question is. The expert should be providing you with an honest answer about how they will handle all that.

“what about the costs of the expert?”

In principle, you can hire anyone you think is the best person to advise or assist you. The only condition is that the costs should be ‘reasonable’. So, if you hire a lawyer, it should not be the most expensive lawyer in the Netherlands. But you should hire someone who has good judgment in the right jurisdiction and can provide you with adequate advice.

“the next step: how does a Works Council hire an expert?”

The legal rules for hiring an expert are simple: you, as a Works Council, are the only one who can decide which expert you hire and when you will hire them. There is no one, inside or outside the organisation, who can or may stop you.

The Works Council must inform the Director in advance that they are going to hire an external expert. You do this by providing the Director with a time estimate/cost overview for the expert. The Works Council does not have to ask the Director for permission to hire an expert.

“is the Director required to pay the costs of the expert?”

The rules of the WOR and the court rulings are very clear: the Director pays. The only thing the expert needs to do is write a letter stating three things: the estimated number of hours the expert will be working, the estimated amount it will cost and the expert’s address details.

The Works Council only has to hand that expert letter to the Director. The Director cannot have an opinion about it or comment on it. Based on the WOR, the Director is required, after receiving the expert’s time estimate, to pay the expert. Of course, a Director can object, but as long as the hiring of the expert is ‘reasonable’, all court rulings so far have sided with the Works Council.

“what about confidentiality?”

Article 20 (Dutch) of the WOR documents the confidentiality for Works Council members and anyone who the Works Council hires to work on behalf of the Works Council. This also regulates the privacy of experts that are hired by the Works Council.

Do you have questions about hiring an expert for the Works Council, or are you looking for someone with a particular skill or quality to hire as an expert? We will be happy to help you on your way with all our knowledge and our extensive network.

 

Note: Please note that we are a Dutch organisation and that all our information is originally composed in Dutch. For the benefit of our English-speaking customers we have translated some of our online information. We are still in the process of translating even more of our information. It could therefore be that you will come across Dutch pages on CT2.nl. Please contact us if you would like more information.

BewarenBewaren

BewarenBewaren

BewarenBewaren

BewarenBewarenBewarenBewarenBewarenBewaren

artikelen die wellicht ook interessant zijn:

  • how does the Works Council handle a request for advice?
    how does the Works Council handle a request for advice?
  • coronavirus: situations and considerations for the Works Council
    coronavirus: situations and considerations for the Works…
  • a Works Council training is not a training
    a Works Council training is not a training
  • the Works Council and negotiating terms of employment
    the Works Council and negotiating terms of employment
  • Vacation days in times of corona: what are the options for employers and employees?
    Vacation days in times of corona: what are the options for…

Categorie: english Tags: adequate, advice, coaching, CoachSander, communicatie, communication, consultant, costs, expert, facilitator, group coaching, independant, legal, ondernemingsraad, OR, OR-training, request for advice, request for consent, tips, training, WOR, works council

Primaire Sidebar

English homepage

latest article in English on CT2.nl

guideline amount OR training 2023 - CT2.nl

guideline amount for OR training 2023: determined by the SER

The SER has set the guideline amount for OR training courses for 2023. The SER believes that €1160 per daily period is reasonable for OR training.

a weekly update from CT2.nl with the latest articles in English

Check your Inbox (or spam folder) to confirm your subscription

Nieuwsbriefbanner_A_NL
Logo CT2 2018

SNEL CONTACT OPNEMEN?

info@CT2.nl
040-2813128

CT² is een CoachSander organisatie

ONZE MEEST BEZOCHTE PAGINA'S

  • Een snel en goed besluit nemen als groep: het BOB model
  • Wat te doen met een advies vraag
  • eBook instemming en advies
  • Groepscoaching in de praktijk: uitgelegd in 5 stappen
  • eBook OR-basiskennis en OR-begrippen

ONZE NIEUWSTE BLOGS

Recente berichten

  • dagelijks bestuur van de OR: wat doen de voorzitter en secretaris?
  • ambtelijk secretaris van de OR: rol, taak en bevoegdheden
  • 12 wetswijzigingen en belangrijke zaken voor de OR in 2023
Beheer cookie toestemming
Om de beste ervaringen te bieden, gebruiken wij technologieën zoals cookies om informatie over je apparaat op te slaan en/of te raadplegen. Door in te stemmen met deze technologieën kunnen wij gegevens zoals surfgedrag of unieke ID's op deze site verwerken. Als je geen toestemming geeft of uw toestemming intrekt, kan dit een nadelige invloed hebben op bepaalde functies en mogelijkheden.
Functioneel Altijd actief
De technische opslag of toegang is strikt noodzakelijk voor het legitieme doel het gebruik mogelijk te maken van een specifieke dienst waarom de abonnee of gebruiker uitdrukkelijk heeft gevraagd, of met als enig doel de uitvoering van de transmissie van een communicatie over een elektronisch communicatienetwerk.
Voorkeuren
De technische opslag of toegang is noodzakelijk voor het legitieme doel voorkeuren op te slaan die niet door de abonnee of gebruiker zijn aangevraagd.
Statistieken
De technische opslag of toegang die uitsluitend voor statistische doeleinden wordt gebruikt. De technische opslag of toegang die uitsluitend wordt gebruikt voor anonieme statistische doeleinden. Zonder dagvaarding, vrijwillige naleving door uw Internet Service Provider, of aanvullende gegevens van een derde partij, kan informatie die alleen voor dit doel wordt opgeslagen of opgehaald gewoonlijk niet worden gebruikt om je te identificeren.
Marketing
De technische opslag of toegang is nodig om gebruikersprofielen op te stellen voor het verzenden van reclame, of om de gebruiker op een website of over verschillende websites te volgen voor soortgelijke marketingdoeleinden.
Beheer opties Beheer diensten Beheer leveranciers Lees meer over deze doeleinden
Bekijk voorkeuren
{title} {title} {title}