IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/ecoind/v46y2025i1p120-151.html

Opening the black box of works council–management team interaction: Germany and the Netherlands compared

Author

Listed:
  • Annette van den Berg
  • Yolanda Grift

    (Utrecht University School of Economics, Netherlands)

  • Arjen van Witteloostuijn

    (School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit, Netherlands)

  • Saraï Sapulete

    (Berenschot, Netherlands)

  • Martin Behrens
  • Wolfram Brehmer

    (Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI), Hans-Böckler Foundation, Germany)

Abstract

Researchers still struggle with unravelling the internal interaction processes between management and employees (and their representatives). In empirical studies explaining the effects of works councils, the multidimensional nature of the works council–management team relationship is therefore largely ignored. By utilising a unique questionnaire among works councillors, this article examines the (potential) inner workings of this black box, by developing a construct aimed to capture the essence of these forms of social interaction. The authors find that behavioural aspects of cooperation, power, communication, goal sharing and trust significantly affect the relationship between works council and management. The authors also test their construct via a model that seeks to explain the influence of works councils on company decision-making. Their results indicate that despite a few noticeable cross-country differences, their black box construct is the most important factor in explaining this influence both in Germany and the Netherlands, revealing that a good relationship with management is imperative.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:46:y:2025:i:1:p:120-151
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X241228481
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0143831X241228481
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0143831X241228481?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sean O’Brady & Virginia Doellgast, 2021. "Collective Voice and Worker Well‐being: Union Influence on Performance Monitoring and Emotional Exhaustion in Call Centers," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 307-337, July.
    2. Andrew Timming & Juliette Summers, 2020. "Is workplace democracy associated with wider pro-democracy affect? A structural equation model," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 41(3), pages 709-726, August.
    3. Mark Hall & Sue Hutchinson & John Purcell & Michael Terry & Jane Parker, 2013. "Promoting Effective Consultation? Assessing the Impact of the ICE Regulations," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(2), pages 355-381, June.
    4. Uschi Backes-Gellner & Jens Mohrenweiser & Kerstin Pull, 2015. "The effectiveness of codetermination laws in cooperative and adversarial employment relations: When does regulation have bite?," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 36(2), pages 215-238, May.
    5. ANNETTE Van Den BERG & YOLANDA GRIFT & ARJEN Van WITTELOOSTUIJN, 2011. "Managerial Perceptions of Works Councils’ Effectiveness in the Netherlands," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 50(3), pages 497-513, July.
    6. Christian Pfeifer, 2011. "The Heterogeneous Economic Consequences of Works Council Relations," Schmollers Jahrbuch : Journal of Applied Social Science Studies / Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 131(1), pages 59-71.
    7. van den Berg, Annette & Grift, Yolanda K. & Sapulete, Saraï & Brehmer, Wolfram & Behrens, Martin & van Witteloostuijn, Arjen, 2019. "Work councils in Germany and the Netherlands compared: An explorative study using an input-throughput-output approach," WSI Studies 17, The Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI), Hans Böckler Foundation.
    8. Akbar Zaheer & Bill McEvily & Vincenzo Perrone, 1998. "Does Trust Matter? Exploring the Effects of Interorganizational and Interpersonal Trust on Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 9(2), pages 141-159, April.
    9. 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.
    10. Uwe JIRJAHN & Stephen C. SMITH, 2018. "Nonunion Employee Representation: Theory And The German Experience With Mandated Works Councils," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 89(1), pages 201-233, March.
    11. John T. Addison & Paulino Teixeira, 2020. "Trust and Workplace Performance," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 58(4), pages 874-903, December.
    12. Carola M. Frege, 2002. "A Critical Assessment of the Theoretical and Empirical Research on German Works Councils," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 40(2), pages 221-248, June.
    13. repec:bla:annpce:v:89:y:2018:i:1:p:201-233 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Uwe Jirjahn & Jens Mohrenweiser & Uschi Backes‐Gellner, 2011. "Works Councils and Learning: On the Dynamic Dimension of Codetermination," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(3), pages 427-447, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mohrenweiser, Jens, 2022. "Works Councils," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1103, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    2. Katarzyna Skorupińska-Cieślak, 2021. "What determines the role and position of works councils? Models of councils in Polish organizations," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 42(4), pages 1123-1148, November.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. A. van den Berg & Y.K. Grift & A. van Witteloostuijn & C. Boone & O. van der Brempt, 2013. "The effect of employee workplace representation on firm performance: A cross-country comparison within Europe," Working Papers 13-05, Utrecht School of Economics.
    6. John S. Heywood & Uwe Jirjahn, 2014. "Variable Pay, Industrial Relations and Foreign Ownership: Evidence from Germany," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 52(3), pages 521-552, September.
    7. Mohrenweiser, Jens & Pfeifer, Christian, 2024. "Organisational justice, employee representation, and firm performance," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1499, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    8. Uwe Jirjahn, 2026. "Arbeitsmarkt und Demokratie: Politische Folgewirkungen betrieblicher Mitbestimmung," Research Papers in Economics 2026-01, University of Trier, Department of Economics.
    9. VAN DEN BERG, Annette & GRIFT, Yolanda & VAN WITTELOOSTUIJN, Arjen & BOONE, Christophe & VAN DER BREMPT, Olivier, 2013. "The effect of employee workplace representation on firm performance. A cross-country comparison within Europe," Working Papers 2013008, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    10. Mohrenweiser, Jens, 2021. "Reconciling the opposing economic effects of works councils across databases [Die Vereinbarkeit gegensätzlicher Befunde zu ökonomischen Effekten von Betriebsräten in verschiedenen Datensätzen]," Industrielle Beziehungen. Zeitschrift für Arbeit, Organisation und Management, Verlag Barbara Budrich, vol. 28(4), pages 384-406.
    11. Laszlo Goerke & Sabrina Jeworrek, 2021. "Paid vacation use: The role of works councils," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 42(3), pages 473-503, August.
    12. Jan Ekke Wigboldus & Yolanda Grift & Annette van den Berg & Jan Kees Looise, 2016. "The economic effects of works councils: channels and conditions. Using secondary data to test a new theoretical model," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 37(3), pages 535-565, August.
    13. Uwe Jirjahn & Jens Mohrenweiser, 2016. "Owner-Managers and the Failure of Newly Adopted Works Councils," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 54(4), pages 815-845, December.
    14. John T. Addison & Paulino Teixeira & Lutz Bellmann, 2023. "Performance and the Conjunction of Better Management Practices and Non-Union Workplace Representation," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 1-43, June.
    15. repec:bla:annpce:v:89:y:2018:i:1:p:201-233 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. VAN DEN BERG, Annette & GRIFT, Yolanda & VAN WITTELOOSTUIJN, Arjen & BOONE, Christophe & VAN DER BREMPT, Olivier, 2013. "The effect of employee workplace representation on firm performance. A cross-country comparison within Europe," ACED Working Papers 2013016, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics.
    17. John T. Addison & Paulino Teixeira & Philipp Grunau & Lutz Bellmann, 2023. "Works council ‘disaffection’ and establishment survivability," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 70(1), pages 38-67, February.
    18. Hans-Dieter Gerner & Holger Reinemann & Andreas Dutzi & Daniel Ludwig, 2019. "Voraussetzungen und Effekte betrieblicher Interessenvertretung in eigentümergeführten Unternehmen," ZfKE – Zeitschrift für KMU und Entrepreneurship, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 67(2), pages 113-144.
    19. Uwe Jirjahn & Johannes Kiess, 2024. "Does Employee Representation Foster Workplace Democracy?," Research Papers in Economics 2024-13, University of Trier, Department of Economics.
    20. Jirjahn, Uwe & Le, Thi Xuan Thu, 2023. "Works Councils and Workers' Party Preferences in Germany," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1228, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    21. Jirjahn, Uwe, 2024. "Corporate Globalization and Worker Representation," IZA Discussion Papers 16727, IZA Network @ LISER.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:46:y:2025:i:1:p:120-151. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.ekhist.uu.se/english.htm .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.