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.
