Betriebsrat

Another interesting aspect of last week's pilot programme in Munich was the intervention of the company's Betriebsrat (Works Council).  Here is the strange contradiction at the heart of the modern German economy; dynamic and innovative yet also so very protective.  In Mitteleuropa not everything is sacrificed on the altar of efficiency.

I am a farmer's son who has been self-employed for most of his life with no more than a passing acquaintance with organised labour so this was all a new experience for me.

As the session was officially designated as 'training', severe and immutable restrictions were imposed on which observers were allowed in the room.  These were announced late on Monday morning ahead of a Tuesday start.   As a designated 'co-facilitator' I was okay but strictly on a 'named basis'.  Not all of the Head Office attendees were so lucky.

Everything I read indicates that the German economic model is functioning better than any of its competitors so who am I to question their methods?

But what I did learn was that you'd better check with the Works Council before you schedule an observable pilot programme in Germany.  Given that no trainee likes being under the microscope as they learn the Betriebsrat knew exactly what it was doing in warding off the Head Office observers.