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.
3, 3a
A business transfer as defined in the Employment Law Harmonisation Act (AVRAG) refers to the sale or lease of (parts of) the company, transfer of ownership through gift or any other form of change in the ownership, with general continuation of business activities with the previous organisational structure (including the take-over of a considerable number of employees), infrastructure and clientele. It might also be the result of a merger, joint venture or divestment. Operations that only result from the transfer of business functions (for example, splitting off of operational duties without any assets and without the transfer of more than 10% of the staff) do not qualify as 'transfer' according to the terminology of the law.
The new entrepreneur automatically becomes the employer of all staff (including apprentices and executive staff members). This means that all existing employment contracts (including fixed-term and temporary employment contracts) are maintained unchanged unless employees agree to new provisions. Changes deteriorating from the perspective of the employee affected shortly after the transfer may be declared null and void if the employee can prove that he/she was pressured into agreeing to any changes (AVRAG, §3(6)). The seller or the buyer has to inform affected staff or, if such exists, the works council in writing before realising the transfer about (AVRAG, §3a):
Furthermore, the seller of the company has to inform affected employees on the potential transfer of guarantees for severance payments and/or pension entitlements. The new owner has to inform the employees about changes in applicable collective agreements, changes in work agreements and any refusal to take over occupational pension or dismissal protection.
This information can also be realised through posting information in a suitable location in the company that is easily accessible for the employees (for example, a company notice board).
If there is a works council in the company, it may make recommendations on options to alleviate or avoid potential negative effects for the employees and might cooperate in establishing a social plan for affected employees.
The employees have the right to object to the transfer if:
The employees have to raise their objection within one month. If objection is granted, the employment contract with the original employer remains in place.
When apprentices are transferred to a new employer, either the former or new employer have to inform the apprenticeship office (Lehrlingsstelle) run by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ Lehrlingsstellen).
Eurofound (2015), Austria: Staff information and consultation on business transfers, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/staff-information-and-consultation-on-business-transfers/austria
Between the end of 2022 and the first half of 2023, almost 300,000 employees working for ‘big tech’ companies were laid off across the world, making headlines for months in global media. This development has been a shock, considering the high numbers of jobs in well-known tech corporations with a reputation for offering good working conditions and well-paid positions.
The retail banking sector is fertile ground for studying the impacts of digitalisation on work and employment. Financial services are increasingly provided online, without the intermediary of customer-facing institutions. Many banks in the sector have been undergoing serial restructuring since the global financial crisis, and it is one of the few service sectors with stagnant or declining employment.
Since 2011, the Restructuring support instruments database of the EU PolicyWatch has been collecting information on measures that assist companies and workers to anticipate and manage restructuring. This article looks at measures in the database aimed at supporting employees and employers during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2022).
Eurofound’s European Restructuring Monitor database reveals the impact of the energy crisis on employment in the EU. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, energy prices have hit record highs. The European Commission imposed sanctions and limitations on the import of oil and gas from Russia, which has reacted by reneging on supply commitments to many Member States.
