(Change of) terms and conditions of employment

The terms and conditions of employment are stipulated in the employment agreement, personnel handbooks or collective labour agreements. Employers sometimes wish to change these employment conditions, either on an individual basis or collectively. Changing employment conditions is often complex. It demands solid reasoning and a good provision of information. It often pertains to secondary employment conditions for which consent of the works council is often needed. If that consent is given, it does not automatically bind the employees. In principle, separate consent must be obtained from the individual employees. In exceptional cases, it is possible to change employment conditions unilaterally.