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Works councils and the management of human resources: Evidence from German establishment data

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  • Christian Pfeifer

Abstract

This empirical research note focuses on the question of whether German works councils are sand or grease in the management of human resources and if the effects differ between three different works council–management relationship types. For this purpose, the author uses survey data from more than 11,000 German firms. The main result is that the effects of works councils on expected HRM (human resource management) problems in German firms are heterogeneous with respect to different aspects of HRM and to differences in works council–management relations. The findings are consistent with rent-protection, rent-sharing and voice functions of works councils.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Pfeifer, 2014. "Works councils and the management of human resources: Evidence from German establishment data," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 35(1), pages 143-163, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:35:y:2014:i:1:p:143-163
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X12464068
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Verena Dill & Uwe Jirjahn, 2017. "Foreign owners and the quality of industrial relations in Germany," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 38(1), pages 5-25, February.
    3. Harald Pfeifer, 2020. "Works councils and absenteeism of apprentices: An empirical analysis," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 41(3), pages 672-692, August.
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    5. Annette van den Berg & Yolanda Grift & Arjen van Witteloostuijn & Saraï Sapulete & Martin Behrens & Wolfram Brehmer, 2025. "Opening the black box of works council–management team interaction: Germany and the Netherlands compared," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 46(1), pages 120-151, February.

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