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Employee Representation and Consultative Voice in Multinational Companies Operating in Britain

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Marginson
  • Paul Edwards
  • Tony Edwards
  • Anthony Ferner
  • Olga Tregaskis

Abstract

Multinational companies (MNCs) from different countries of origin are widely held to have distinct preferences regarding the presence of employee representative structures and the form that employee ‘voice’ over management decisions takes. Such preferences are said to derive from the national models that prevail in the different countries of origin in which MNCs are based. Findings from a large‐scale survey of the UK operations of MNCs indicate that country‐of‐origin influences on patterns of employee representation and emphasis on direct or indirect channels of employee ‘voice’ are attenuated by other factors, notably sector and method of growth. They also reveal significant recent innovation in representation and voice arrangements by this key group of employers.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Marginson & Paul Edwards & Tony Edwards & Anthony Ferner & Olga Tregaskis, 2010. "Employee Representation and Consultative Voice in Multinational Companies Operating in Britain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 48(1), pages 151-180, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:brjirl:v:48:y:2010:i:1:p:151-180
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8543.2009.00749.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anthony Ferner & Phil Almond & Trevor Colling & Tony Edwards, 2005. "Policies on Union Representation in US Multinationals in the UK: Between Micro‐Politics and Macro‐Institutions," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 43(4), pages 703-728, December.
    2. Elger, Tony & Smith, Chris, 2005. "Assembling Work: Remaking Factory Regimes in Japanese Multinationals in Britain," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199241514.
    3. Anthony Ferner & Matthias Varul, 2000. "‘Vanguard’ Subsidiaries and the Diffusion of New Practices: A Case Study of German Multinationals," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 38(1), pages 115-140, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jimmy Donaghey & Niall Cullinane & Tony Dundon & Tony Dobbins & Eugene Hickland, 2022. "Employee choice of voice and non‐union worker representation," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(6), pages 503-522, November.
    2. Schröter, Oliver & Davoine, Eric, 2013. "Unterschiede in der institutionellen Einbettung der Arbeitsbeziehungen und Human Resource Management Praktiken zwischen Deutschland und der Schweiz: eine explorative Untersuchung in Schweizer Tochterg," Die Unternehmung - Swiss Journal of Business Research and Practice, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 67(4), pages 364-390.
    3. Andrea Signoretti, 2021. "Workplace processes and employment opportunities for vulnerable social groups," European Journal of Industrial Relations, , vol. 27(1), pages 77-92, March.
    4. Jirjahn, Uwe, 2024. "Corporate Globalization and Worker Representation," IZA Discussion Papers 16727, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Nina Pološki Vokić & Maja Klindžić, 2022. "The country-of-origin and country-of-operations effect on organised labour in multinational companies – exploring the role of labour relations models," Transfer: European Review of Labour and Research, , vol. 28(4), pages 409-422, November.
    6. Gregory Jackson & Sarosh Kuruvilla & Carola Frege, 2013. "Across Boundaries: The Global Challenges Facing Workers and Employment Research 50th Anniversary Special Issue," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 51(3), pages 425-439, September.
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    8. Dörrenbächer, Christoph & Gammelgaard, Jens & McDonald, Frank & Stephan, Andreas & Tüselmann, Heinz, 2013. "Staffing foreign subsidiaries with parent country nationals or host country nationals? Insights from European subsidiaries," Working Papers 74, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute of Management Berlin (IMB).
    9. J. Ryan Lamare & Patrick Gunnigle & Paul Marginson & Gregor Murray, 2013. "Union Status and Double-Breasting at Multinational Companies in Three Liberal Market Economies," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 66(3), pages 696-722, May.

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