What are the 3 most effective actions you can take during Works Council elections

1. The first one is easy: something edible.  Which colleague doesn’t “happen to walk by” when there’s cake? Hot Choco with the WoCo? OR‑ganic sandwiches? OReo cookies? Cote d’OR chocolates? Plenty of wordplay to choose from. And when it’s FREE, it’s an instant way to draw attention to the Works Council. Of course, keep it within reasonable limits — you don’t want the Works Council to gain a reputation for throwing money around.

Our sustainability side would also like to point out that we are not fans of “gadgets” or other non‑sustainable merchandise that ends up in the bin almost immediately. So no lanyards, no plastic sunglasses with “WoCo” printed on them, no useless trinkets. Opt instead for something edible or sustainable (for example: a bee‑friendly “let the Works Council bloom” seed mix).

2. Create a communication plan.  Decide in advance what you will communicate, in which week, through which channels, and by whom. Make sure your communication has a clear build‑up and — where possible — involve the Internal Communications department.

3. A thrilling election race.  Think Max Verstappen versus Lewis Hamilton. Think Ajax versus PSV. Think Rico Verhoeven versus Jamal Ben Saddik. The more exciting the competition for votes, the more active the campaigns will be — which leads to higher voter turnout and greater visibility for the Works Council.

You might also consider involving the candidates who just missed out by inviting them to join a sounding board group or a WoCo committee.

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