Guiver Freeman advises employee representatives, councils for employee participation and (central or local) Works Councils of large and small businesses, societies, foundations and institutions in The Netherlands and abroad. Our clients are found in trade and industry, healthcare, education and the government.

The most important topics in this kind of consultancy are:
• employee relations
• company strategy
• policy development
• mergers and takeovers or disposal of parts of the company
• determination of HR policy, integrated in company policy
• the protection of personal data
• social relationships and socially responsible business management
• management development
• reorganisations and social plans
• the introduction of new technology.

More specifically the assignments may be concerned with:
• employment conditions
• labour law
• working hours and rosters
• salary and benefits
• evaluation systems
• collective redundancy
• competency management
• the involvement of external advisors
• job evaluation
• performance management
• Investors in People
• career management
• employee (satisfaction) surveys
• training policy and talent management
• the use of personality questionnaires and psychological tests
• management of absenteeism.

Guiver Freeman has also mediated in cases of conflict between the employer and the Works Council or coached one of the parties in how to deal with the other party with more respect.

Examples of courses of consultancy for Works Councils successfully completed by us

Client: Works Council, Dutch daughter of an international company
Role of Guiver-Freeman: Trainer/advisor
Result: Balanced relationship achieved between employer and Works Council, several successfully conducted advice and consent procedures

Client: Works Council
Role of Guiver Freeman: External advisor
Result: Refusal of the employer to negotiate in a reasonable manner with the Works Council regarding a social plan led to a very far reaching protection against dismissal of certain employees