tillidsrepræsentanter

Tillidsrepræsentanter are elected workplace representatives in Denmark who serve as a formal link between employees and management, often working in cooperation with a trade union. Their primary function is to ensure that employees’ views on working conditions, safety, scheduling, pay, and other terms of employment are considered in management decisions and to facilitate communication across the employer–employee divide.

Duties and activities of tillidsrepræsentanter include presenting and channeling colleagues’ concerns, assisting in grievance procedures, and providing information about rights and obligations under collective agreements. They may participate in joint bodies such as safety committees, accompany employees to meetings with managers or human resources, and help interpret rules and procedures for coworkers. Their authority and procedures are defined by collective agreements, sector agreements, and applicable Danish law, with a typical mandate lasting a fixed term, commonly two years. They are usually affiliated with a local trade union, though election methods can vary depending on company agreements.

Legal status and protections are designed to shield tillidsrepræsentanter from retaliation for performing their duties. They often have access to information relevant to employees and may receive time off for training and meetings connected with their represented duties, as provided by the applicable agreements and law. The role supports workplace democracy by giving workers a voice in everyday affairs and in the negotiation of conditions of work.

See also: labour relations in Denmark, hovedtillidsrepræsentant, tillidsmand, arbejdsmiljøloven.