Consultation at Work

In the book, [the authors] convincingly argue the case for government, employers, and trade unions ... taking a more positive attitude towards this institution. They situate consultation in its historical context in the UK ... ; explain the drivers behind the European Community's desire to generalise the institution at the turn of the century; and examine the British government's tepid transposition of the EU rules. Above all, they present the results of their own research on the impact of the EU rules in the UK to date and make powerful suggestions for a reassessment of the value of consultation, on the part of both domestic government and trade unions. A book to be studied with close attention by those interested in the future of the collective representation of workers towards their employers in a time of declining union membership and shrinking collective bargaining coverage. * Paul L. Davies QC (hon), FBA, Allen & Overy Professor of Corporate Law, University of Oxford *
Consultation at Work is a worthy successor to the long line of classic monographs produced by members of the Industrial Relations Research Unit at the University of Warwick. It is a definitive study that presents invaluable original research, sets it in a policy and intellectual context, and advances our understanding of the process and significance of employee voice in the contemporary workplace. The writing of books of this kind has become less common amongst Industrial Relations scholars but Consultation at Work demonstrates the continuing value of this form of academic output. It is a work of immense scholarship that provides an integrated analysis of its subject and of which its authors can be justly proud. * Edmund Heery, Professor of Employment Relations, Cardiff Business School *
The publication of this exceptional work could not be better timed - especially with the added interest being shown in the whole concept of consultation at work and its crucial linkage to Employee Engagement. Written by two of the most talented academics working in the field of British Employment Relations, the book provides a crisp analysis, and sometimes sorry history of consultation in British workplaces. I would recommend this book as compulsory-reading for CEO's, Trade Union General Secretaries, policy makers and politicians alike. Mark Hall and John Purcell provide not only analysis and history but crucial and gentle prescription of how consultation at work could be improved. * Ed Sweeney, Chair, ACAS *
As the country struggles to escape from the current financial crisis, caused at least in part by rising inequality and poor boardroom behaviour, this illuminating and authoritative book on consultation shows there are better ways to run a firm and the UK economy. This is a must read for ministers, managers and trade unionists. * Lord John Monks, Former General Secretary, TUC and European TUC *