286. Which body in a company assists employees with problems vis-à-vis the employer?

Answer options

1. the works council (Betriebsrat)
2. the tax auditor (Betriebsprüfer/Betriebsprüferin)
3. the workplace group (Betriebsgruppe)
4. the company management (Betriebsmanagement)

Explanation

The works council is the statutory employee representation within the establishment under the Works Constitution Act (Betriebsverfassungsgesetz, BetrVG), created upon employee initiative (§ 1 BetrVG). It enjoys rights to information, consultation, and co-determination, including in social matters (§ 87 BetrVG) and regarding personnel measures such as hiring, transfers, and dismissals (§§ 99, 102 BetrVG). Constitutionally, it is grounded in freedom of association (Art. 9(3) Basic Law) and the social state principle, and it revives the Weimar tradition of works councils (1920) after their destruction under National Socialism and re-establishment in 1952. It must be distinguished from trade unions and from corporate co-determination at supervisory board level (Mitbestimmungsgesetz 1976).