What must an employer do?

First, the employer of any employee who may be affected must tell their representatives:

• that the transfer is going to take place, approximately when, and why;
  · the legal, economic and social implications of the transfer for the affected employees;
• whether the employer envisages taking any action (reorganisation for example) in connection with the transfer which will affect the employees, and if so, what action is envisaged;
• where the previous employer is required to give the information, he or she must disclose whether the prospective new employer envisages carrying out any action which will affect the employees, and if so, what. The new employer must give the previous employer the necessary information so that the previous employer is able to meet this requirement. The information must be provided long enough before the transfer to give adequate time for consultation.

Second, if action is envisaged which will affect the employees, the employer must consult the representatives of the employees affected about that action. The consultation must be undertaken with a view to seeking agreement. During these consultations the employer must consider and respond to any representations made by the representatives. If the employer rejects these representations he/she must state the reasons.
If there are special circumstances which make it not reasonably practicable for an employer to fulfil any of the information or consultation requirements, he/she must take such steps to meet the requirements as are reasonably practicable.