Season 2

The UnleashPeople Podcast Episode 5

Collaboration with Works Councils with Julian Burmeister-Bießle (de)

In the fifth episode of The UnleashPeople Podcast, hosts Ina and Christian are joined by Julian, a former judge and current conciliation board (Einigungsstelle) mediator, to discuss the often-debated topic of collaborating with the Works Council (Betriebsrat). While works councils are sometimes unfairly stereotyped as destructive innovation blockers, Julian and Ina highlight how they can actually make organizations more resilient by surfacing crucial employee feedback that management and standard surveys might otherwise miss.

This episode dives deep into the fundamentals of building a trusting relationship with the works council through open communication and transparency. The trio explores modern corporate challenges, such as how to negotiate when HR's decision-making power is limited by international matrix organizations, and how to address the highly dynamic concerns surrounding AI, IT systems, and employee monitoring. Julian shares practical advice on conflict resolution, explaining how the legal framework can act as a guiding lighthouse for negotiations. He also emphasizes that stepping back to understand the opposing party's perspective is the most effective way to prevent disputes from escalating.

5 Key Takeaways‍

Communication and Trust are Essential
Building a functional relationship with the works council requires absolute transparency, timely information sharing, and communicating at eye level rather than building walls.
Honesty Works Best in Matrix Organizations
In international companies where local decision-making is restricted, openly sharing these constraints and corporate "red lines" with the works council leads to better collaborative problem-solving.
AI Introduces Major Complexities
The rapid evolution of AI makes negotiating IT systems and performance monitoring highly challenging, as employees have valid concerns about comprehensive monitoring, structural changes, and job security.
Works Councils Provide Unmatched Insights
Far from being mere obstacles, works councils act as a valuable feedback channel, uncovering workplace issues and cultural insights that management won't find in standard employee surveys.
Manage Emotions to Prevent Escalation
To avoid bringing in a third-party mediator, both sides must learn to put their egos aside, take breaks when emotions run high, and make a genuine effort to understand the underlying motives of the other side.

In case you want to just listen to the episode, here are the links:

The UnleashPeople Podcast - Season 2: Episode 5