This paper analyzes the role of works councils as gatekeepers safeguarding employee's interests in the adoption of monitoring practices. We first introduce a formal model predicting that (i) the introduction of monitoring practices leads to a stronger increase (or weaker decrease) in job...

Many citizens are relatively dissatisfied with the democratic regimes they live in, which can be a threat to political stability. This paper reports empirical evidence that workers in firms with works councils are on average significantly more satisfied with the democracy as it exists in Germany...

This article is about current developments of codetermination by works councils as a core institution of labour relations in Germany. It is argued that we can observe seven different paths of development which point into different directions, combining processes of erosion, functional change and...

The objective of the article is to determine the prospects for the development of BLER (board-level employee representation) in the new EU countries. To achieve this goal, a critical analysis of the literature on the subject and relevant legal regulations was used. In the old countries of the...

Digitalisation in the public sector presents both opportunities and challenges, impacting working conditions, work organisation and social dialogue, yet research on its effects remains limited, especially in Germany. In particular, the role of digitalisation in shaping work dynamics, workload...

Using the Job Demands-Resources theory, this study examines how organisational politics and self-concept affect women employees' voice and workplace well-being (WWB). It employs an explanatory-sequential design, with study 1 (quantitative research, n = 463) using experimental vignettes and scale...

This study examines the interplay of co-determination law and board gender quotas using novel board-director panel data for Norway. We present descriptive evidence suggesting that boards with employee representatives on boards of directors were more gender diverse before the gender quota....

Upon entering an organization, newcomers aim to reduce uncertainty, and often do so by adjusting to the organizational status quo. In this paper, we argue that these efforts to adjust and fit in can, paradoxically, enable newcomers to stand out. We focus on a specific way in which newcomers can...

The working paper uses the example of digitalization to showcase how European Works Councils can further develop their participation practices in companies and their various locations. There is both room and need for improvement in organizing decent digital work and in the use of information and...

The existing research on bottom-line mentality has mainly focused on understanding why it leads employees to unethical behaviors. The current study aimed at understanding why, how, and when supervisor bottom-line mentality (SBLM) discourages positive employee behavior (e.g., voice, and...

In this article, we map the concept of "sustainable work" in the international policy and academic literatures. On this basis, we develop a multidimensional framework, arguing that sustainable work needs to integrate ecological and social sustainability, address work beyond paid labour, attend...

Servant leadership has been identified as extremely important for organizational performance and success; therefore, much focus is placed on developing and maintaining leaders' positive attitudes and behaviors toward their subordinates. Different servant models have been put out by earlier...

A series of studies show that unions and works councils have an influence on workers' political activities and attitudes. However, at issue are the transmission channels through which worker representation impacts workers' political activities and attitudes. This article discusses from a...

Betriebsräte sind nur noch in 7 Prozent der Betriebe anzutreffen. Der Verbreitungsgrad ist im langfristigen Trend deutlich gesunken. Dies ist jedoch nicht mit fehlenden angemessenen Partizipationsmöglichkeiten gleichzusetzen. Vielerorts existieren alternative Formen der Interessenvertretung...

This paper investigates one aspect of the structured management practices literature which has argued that exogenous legislative changes leading to reductions in union power (identified with the passage of RTW laws) serve to increase the use of management incentives practices often resisted by...

A series of studies show that unions and works councils have an influence on workers' political activities and attitudes. However, at issue are the transmission channels through which worker representation impacts workers' political activities and attitudes. This article discusses from a...

A series of studies show that unions and works councils have an influence on workers' political activities and attitudes. However, at issue are the transmission channels through which worker representation impacts workers' political activities and attitudes. This article discusses from a...

We present an experimental test of a procedurally fair co-determination mechanism where group members reduce their value uncertainty before submitting bids for a joint project. The results suggest a relatively efficient mechanism, with unprofitable projects being largely rejected and profitable...

This research addresses a significant gap in the academic literature: the lack of robust tools for quantifying employee involvement in Lean Manufacturing (LM). This shortfall is critical, as employee involvement is a cornerstone of LM's success. To address this deficiency, our study creates a...

This article considers sustainable work from the perspective of quality of work and its impact on workers' health and on public health. Based on an occupational psychology social experiment within an organization, it shows how empowering workers to influence their work and the conditions in...

Institutions representing the workers' voice have long been a contentious topic in the economic literature. Against a backdrop of inconclusive evidence and limited use of credible identification strategies, we study the impact of the 2015 policy change that introduced mandatory board-level...

In Deutschland haben immer weniger Unternehmen einen Betriebsrat. In den vergangenen 30 Jahren ist der Anteil der Beschäftigten mit Arbeitnehmervertretung um mehr als zehn Prozentpunkte zurückgegangen. 2024 wurde nur noch jeder Dritte Beschäftigte in der Privatwirtschaft durch einen...