(EN) Altogether: Employers and employees developing effective consultation and participation system to address the COVID19 impact

Dear all,

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented challenges across the globe, affecting every sector of our economies. Companies, both big and small, have been hit hard, leaving employers and employees to navigate a constantly evolving crisis scenario. One critical aspect of this challenge is effective communication and participation across all levels within organizations. This platform is designed to address exactly that – enabling stronger and more effective collaboration during these testing times.

This platform is an outcome of a comprehensive research study analysis carried out across seven EU member states and candidate countries – Spain, Poland, Serbia, Germany, Montenegro, Romania, and Portugal. It was meticulously crafted to understand the impact of COVID-19 on workers’ rights to information, consultation, and participation, and how different sectors and countries have responded to this crisis.

Our research extracted significant insights on both the challenges and the successful strategies active across various sectors and national contexts. This platform brings those insights to you, translating them into practical skills and strategies to promote cooperation, increase workers’ participation in decision-making processes, and foster effective mechanisms of information, consultation, and participation at the company level.

Whether you’re an employer seeking to manage your (remote) team more effectively or an employee wishing to enhance your virtual collaboration skills, this platform is designed to equip you with the necessary tools. You’ll have access to a wide array of resources, including training guides, a handbook manual, learning outputs, video tutorials, and digital breakouts, all designed to make this learning journey as enriching as possible.

Based on the analysis of the various partnering countries, we can identify seven key areas of skill development necessary for the preparation of a digital training curriculum. We have tailored our resources into seven comprehensive learning modules with different learning outcomes, each addressing critical aspects of (remote) work collaboration:

• Communication Skills in the Digital and Remote Work Era – In the era of digital and remote work, effective virtual communication has become more important than ever. Employees and worker representatives should be trained in conveying their points succinctly and clearly through digital platforms, understanding and respecting digital etiquette, and utilizing digital tools effectively for information sharing and collaboration.
• Remote Collaboration Skills –With remote work becoming a norm, there is a need to work effectively in a virtual team environment. Understanding collaborative digital tools, project management platforms, and cloud-based solutions is crucial.
• Digital Literacy – This refers to the ability to find, evaluate, utilize, and create content using information technologies and the internet. It’s necessary to navigate the digital world effectively and safely.
• Leadership Skills in a Virtual Environment – Virtual leadership skills are important for leading remote teams effectively. This includes trust-building, maintaining team morale, managing conflict remotely, and ensuring clear communication of tasks and responsibilities.
• Online Negotiation and Consensus-Building Skills – The ability to negotiate and build consensus online is crucial in the era of virtual meetings and remote work.
• Awareness of Digital Rights and Responsibilities – Understanding digital rights and responsibilities is essential to ensure respectful and legal behaviour in online interactions.
• Workers’ Rights and Participation in the European Union: An Overview – Navigating workers’ rights and participation in the European Union can improve with understanding the directives, regulations, and decisions. These tools are pivotal in establishing an equitable, safe, and participatory work environment. This module aims to provide an overview of key directives and resources related to workers’ rights, consultation, and participation within the EU

We strongly believe that in times of crisis, solidarity and cooperation are our most potent weapons. Let’s learn, grow, and navigate these challenges, Altogether!