Inform and consult your employees

If you employ people you'll need to communicate with them to exchange views and ideas and to issue and receive instructions. In certain situations, you are legally required to inform and consult employees.

Successful consultation and information-sharing between you and your employees is also critical to your business' success. The benefits of making your employees feel involved and empowered can include higher productivity and reduced recruitment costs.

Legal requirements to inform and consult your employees

This guide explains your legal requirements, such as those set out in the Information and Consultation of Employees (ICE) Regulations, and the opportunities for communicating with your employees. It explains when pre-existing agreements (PEAs) may meet your requirements under the ICE regulations and how you can negotiate and implement an agreement with your employees. It also explains the 'fall-back provisions' that work when you do not already have a PEA in place or if you and your employees fail to agree on an information and consultation process.

This guidance also explores the requirements for information and consultation through a European Works Council if you are part of a multinational company.

Lastly, this guide sets out how your business can benefit from successful communication and outlines examples of good practice.