European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legal regulations provides information on regulations in the Member States of the European Union and Norway which are explicitly or implicitly linked to anticipating and managing change.
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In the case of planned changes in the business operation, including collective dismissals (within 30 days, dismissal of at least 5 employees in companies with 21–99 employees, at least 5% of the workforce in companies with 100-600 employees, at least 30 employees in larger firms or at least 5 employees aged 50+), the employer is obliged to inform the works council and, if demanded by the works council, consult on the implementation of the changes, including measures to avoid or reduce collective dismissals.
If the planned changes bring about negative consequences (understood as reduction of the income, longer commuting obligations and job loss) for all or a considerable number of employees in companies with permanently at least 20 staff members, a social plan can be agreed to avoid, reduce or remove the negative consequences for the employees. If the parties fail to agree on a social plan, the works council may refer the case to a public mediation and arbitration board (local labour and social court) consisting of a professional judge, two representatives of the company to be nominated by the employer and the works council and two other members from a list of people nominated to such boards. The board has to decide as quickly as possible, taking into account the interest of the company as well as of the employees. The decision of the board has to be implemented.
The law does not directly include an obligation to consider alternatives to collective dismissals for employers. However, the obligation to inform and consult the works council before planned changes usually leads to negotiations about the number of dismissals and how jobs can be saved e.g. by reducing working-time etc.
Eurofound (2015), Austria: Obligation to consider alternatives to collective dismissals, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/obligation-to-consider-alternatives-to-collective-dismissals/austria
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