From gambling addiction to corporate restructuring, German works councils face rising demands. Learn about legal tools like BEM, liability risks, and the need for crisis competence.
A construction worker in Rheda-Wiedenbrück was sentenced to a prison term for embezzling more than €73,000 from his employer. The trigger: a gambling addiction. The case, which came to light in recent weeks, illustrates a growing reality for Germany’s works councils (Betriebsräte) and staff representatives: they are now expected to handle not only wage agreements and restructuring plans, but also the personal crises that threaten workplace peace.
The educational cooperative biko advertised a specialized crisis-competence seminar in…