Monika Gładoch
Graduate of law at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, since 2001 legal advisor, prof. of the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, PhD in Legal Sciences (title of monograph: Social dialog in collective labour law). Head of the Warsaw Department of Labour Law. She was vice-president of the Codification Commission on Labour Law from 2016 to 2018. In the ranking “Gazeta Prawna” she was recognized as 1 of the 50 most influential lawyers in Poland in 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2018. She received the Golden Paragraph award (journalary “Gazeta Prawna”) in the category of best legal advisor 2018.
Monika Gładoch, prof. at the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński, answers the questions of Rafał Górski, editor-in-chief of the civilian Affairs Week.
Lack of dialog usually ends poorly for the company.
Henry BochniarzConfederation of Leviathan
[Employee councils are] an exceptional tool that sensitises the reasoning of workers in terms of the common good. For each of us, our companies and workplaces are crucial places in which we would like to have the best employment relations and a sense of participation in decisions straight concerning us.
Senator Krzysztof Kwiatkowski
An crucial issue, but not conclusive, is whether this social dialog will be conducted by the existence of a staff council or in any another formula. The most crucial thing is whether the employer understands how the working environment changes and whether it is innovatively shaping it with employees.
Prof. Jerzy Hausner
- What is the board of employees, how is it called, who can sit in it, and what truly differs its function from the function of trade unions in the regular functioning of the company?
- On 28 April 2026 an global conference summarizing 20 years of staff councils was held at the University of Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński. What are the most crucial conclusions you have reached from this conference – both optimistic and worrying?
- Many employers proceed to treat the worker council as a nuisance or a "fifth wheel". How can you convince skeptical managers and business owners that a well-functioning council can actually increase worker engagement, lower rotation and aid detect risks before they become a crisis?
- Trade unions frequently see labour councils as competition, and sometimes even as a threat to their position. Where does this conflict come from, and what do you think can be done to make these 2 social dialog institutions complementary alternatively of fighting each other?
- Employment ministry data are alarming – in 2024 only 98 fresh staff councils were reported (including 48 for the first term), and in 2025 only 75 (34 for the first). For comparison: in 2006 – 1905, in 2010 – 510, in 2014 – 280. After 20 years, the board of employees in many companies either does not be at all or operates formally and poorly. What would gotta change in law, organizational culture, and the approach of the parties to make councils alternatively than collude?
- If you were an advisor to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, what 3 circumstantial legislative or non-legislative changes would you propose in the first place to strengthen the position and importance of worker councils?
- What crucial question has no 1 always asked you on the topics we are talking about, and what is the answer to them?
Week of civilian Affairs
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