Statute on the Participation of Employees of the Comprehensive Church Services

1 The participation of employees serves as a principle for the fulfillment of the mission of the Ecclesiastical Services and promotes good understanding between management and employees, as well as their job satisfaction.

2 The Church Council, the management of the Ecclesiastical Services, and the employees of the Ecclesiastical Services collaborate as partners, address differing perceptions, and strive for consensual solutions.

1 The Co-determination Statute formally regulates the purposeful cooperation between the Church Council and the management of the Pan-Church Services, on the one hand, and the employees of the Pan-Church Services, on the other hand.

2 The employees of the Pan-Church Services exercise their co-determination rights within the framework of the Co-determination Statute.

Here is the English translation of the provided text

**1 Employees of the Overall Church; Definitions**

The staff of the Services, with the exception of the Church Council Secretary and the members of the Management Committee, comprises the employees of the Overall Church Services, as well as pastors in institutions, in parishes with mixed patronage, and in parishes of the Overall Church Services.

The leadership of the Overall Church Services comprises the Church Council Secretary and the members of the Management Committee.

1.4.20-108

1

181.404

Participation Statute

Personnel-related matters include, in particular

a. Amendments to the Personnel Ordinance and the associated implementing ordinances pursuant to § 188f para. 1 VVO PVO,

b. Questions concerning occupational pension provision pursuant to § 188f para. 2 VVO PVO,

c. Staff reduction pursuant to § 18 VVO PVO,

d. A social plan pursuant to § 20 VVO PVO,

e. Amendments concerning employee appraisal pursuant to § 84 PVO and the professional and evaluation interview as well as the position assessment pursuant to § 85 para. 3 PVO,

f. The reorganization of at least one department of the Overall Church Services or the overall reorganization of the Overall Church Services,

g. The reorganization of organizational units of the Overall Church Services if they result in the termination of employment relationships,

h. Significant changes to working conditions,

i. Occupational health management,

j. Conflict management,

k. Personnel policy in general.

**Section 2: Referendum**

Function, Subjects and Procedure

Implementation

voting is governed by Section 188 c VVO PVO.

2 The Staff Representation conducts and orders the ballot. It determines the result and communicates it to the employees of the General Church Services as well as to the Church Council and the management of the General Church Services.

3 The Staff Representation is entitled to claim the support of the Staff Services for the conduct of the ballot in consultation with the Church Council Secretary.

2

Statute on Participation

181.404

Section 3: Assembly of Employees

### Composition

The employees of the Ecclesiastical Services, according to § 3 (1), belong to the Assembly of Employees.

1 The Staff Assembly is a function and the decision-making body for the staff of the Ecclesiastical Services.

**2 The Staff Assembly is responsible for, in particular:**

a. Deciding on the participation statute for submission to the referendum,

b. Electing the members of the Staff Representation,

c. Approving the minutes of the Staff Assembly,

d. Approving the annual report and annual accounts of the Staff Representation.

1. **Annual General Meeting of Employees**

An ordinary meeting of the employees takes place once a year.

2. The staff representation can convene additional, including topic-oriented, meetings.

3. Further meetings shall take place if at least one-tenth of the employees of the Gesamt­kirchliche Dienste (Overall Church Services) demand this in writing. These meetings shall usually take place within two months of receipt of the request.

1 Elections and votes in the Assembly of Employees take place openly, unless the Assembly decides on a secret procedure.

2 In elections, a simple majority of the votes cast decides. Those persons who have received the most votes are elected.

3 A motion is considered adopted if it receives more affirmative than negative votes.

1.4.20-108

3

181.404

Section 4: Staff Representation (PV)

Co-determination Statute

Composition and Constituting

Election

Duties

1. The Staff Council consists of five to seven members.

2. The Staff Council constitutes itself. It assigns areas of responsibility to its members.

1 The term of office for the members of the Staff Representation

is two years. Re-election is possible.

2 Balanced representation of the departments within the

Overall Church Services, of the functions existing therein, and

of the genders is strived for.

1 The Staff Representation

1 The Staff Representation represents the interests of the employees of the General Church Services towards the Church Council and the management of the General Church Services.

2 The Staff Representation is specifically responsible for

a. Conducting referendums in accordance with § 5,

b. Convening the assembly of employees in accordance with § 8,

c. Commenting on amendments to the Staff Ordinance and the corresponding implementing ordinances,

d. Taking decisions on resolutions of the Church Council and the Regional Church concerning the institution for occupational pension schemes responsible for the employees of the General Church Services,

e. Commenting on social plans in accordance with § 20 VVO PVO,

f. Regular exchange with the Church Council and the management of the General Church Services on personnel-related topics,

g. Being the point of contact for the Church Council and the management of the General Church Services on all personnel-related topics,

h. Acting as a feedback group and co-designer for personnel-related topics and developments affecting the employees of the General Church Services,

i. Participating in working groups that deal with personnel-related topics,

j. Representing the employees of the General Church Services towards the Church Council and the management of the General Church Services in all personnel-related topics that concern significant parts or a group of employees of the General Church Services,

4

Participation Statute

181.404

k. Supporting employees of the General Church Services in workplace conflicts, if significant parts or a group of employees of the General Church Services are affected,

l. Informing and advising employees of the General Church Services on questions and conflicts at the workplace,

m. Performing all tasks within the framework of co-determination in accordance with

1. Every member of the Staff Council may receive concerns and suggestions from the employees of the General Ecclesiastical Services regarding their work and working methods.

2. The trusted member of the Staff Council, with the consent of the employee concerned, informs the Staff Council. The Staff Council determines the further course of action and designates the member who shall accompany the employee as needed and attend to their concern.

3. The Staff Council treats the concerns and suggestions of the employees of the General Ecclesiastical Services confidentially.

4. The members of the Staff Council are bound to secrecy.

5. If a member of the Staff Council breaches the duty of confidentiality, the Staff Council may request the exclusion of this member from the Staff Council at the assembly of employees. It shall hear the member before making the request. Personnel law measures by the Church Council or the management of the General Ecclesiastical Services remain reserved.

¹ Members of the Staff Representation are entitled to the necessary working hours for the performance of their duties, in accordance with § 94 VVO PVO.

² If required, the Church Council Secretary may grant additional working hours within the framework of annual planning and for special tasks.

³ The Staff Representation applies to the Church Council Secretary for financial resources for its activities, especially for meetings, retreats, and training, within the framework of the ordinary budget.

1.4.20-108

5

181.404

Co-determination Statute

⁴ If required, the Church Council Secretary may also approve additional project-related financial resources within the scope of their authority.

5th Section: Parity Commission (PAKO)

Composition

Tasks

Working method

1 The Joint Commission is composed of

a. two members of the Church Council,

b. the Church Council Secretary and one additional member of the Leadership Convent,

c. four members of the staff representation.

2 The Joint Commission constitutes itself.

3 In order to foster a binding exchange, personnel continuity is aimed for in the representation within the Joint Commission.

4 The Joint Commission may, by mutual agreement, invite additional persons to its meetings, beyond the members pursuant to para. 1, as needed and depending on the topics discussed.

1 The Joint Committee serves for the regular exchange of information between the Church Council and the management of the Central Church Services on the one hand and the staff representation on the other, as well as for the joint reflection on personnel-relevant topics.

2 The Joint Committee may issue recommendations to the Church Council, the management of the Central Church Services, the staff representation, and the assembly of employees.

1 The Parity Commission meets twice annually for ordinary sessions.

2 Each member of the Parity Commission, the Church Council, the Leadership Convent, or the Staff Representation can convene an extraordinary meeting of the Parity Commission.

3 The Church Council, the Church Council Secretary (female or male), and the Staff Representation shall agree upon the agenda items for the meetings in advance amongst themselves.

4 The Church Council Secretary (female or male) coordinates the scheduling of meeting dates and the agenda items for the meetings.

6

Co-determination Statute

Section 6: Co-determination

181.404

The Services exercise their participatory rights in accordance with § 188a VVO PVO through

a. Principle

the ballot, through the assembly of employees, through the staff representation, through participation in consultations, and through information provided by the Church Council, the management of the Supra-Parochial Services, and the staff representation.

1 Employees shall primarily address their concerns to their direct superiors. They may also contact the Human Resources Department and other suitable bodies within the overall Church Services.

2 If a conflict at the workplace cannot be resolved through adherence to the chain of command, employees of the overall Church Services may contact bodies outside the Landeskirche (Regional Church), in particular the Ombudsman's Office of the Canton of Zurich and the Conciliation Authority under the Gender Equality Act.

Every employee has the right, at any time, to contact the staff representation with concerns and suggestions.

c. Staff representation

1 Forms of participation are

a. Information,

b. Consultation,

c. Co-determination.

2 The collaborative partnership between the Church Council, the management

of the General Church Services, and the employees of the General Church

Services is guided by the following principles within the framework of participation

a. Unless a specific form of participation is prescribed or agreed upon,

the form of participation chosen for the employees of the General Church

Services shall be that which is appropriate to the circumstances of the

individual case.

b. The Church Council and the management of the General Church Services

shall consider the aspect of participation when dealing with matters.

They shall particularly consider whether it is a personnel-relevant topic

and which form of participation is appropriate at which time.

Forms

a. Principle

1.4.20-108

7

181.404

Participation Statute

c. In the event of disagreements regarding the appropriateness of participation,

the Church Council and the management of the General Church Services,

as well as the staff representation, shall mutually seek dialogue.

d. If the treatment of a personnel-relevant topic is urgent and participation

cannot occur through the ordinary channel, the Church Council Secretary

and the staff representation shall agree on the procedure. If this is not

successful, the Church Council shall decide after hearing the staff

representation.

b. Information

1 Information forms the prerequisite for participation through consultation and co-determination.

2 Within the scope of information, a mutual transfer of knowledge takes place between the Church Council and the management of the General Church Services on the one hand, and the employees of the General Church Services and the staff representation on the other hand.

3 The staff representation and the employees of the General Church Services are informed about personnel-relevant topics and other topics where their participation is prescribed or desired.

4 Mutual information is provided fully, in an appropriate manner, and in a timely fashion concerning planned projects and promptly regarding decisions made, all within the framework of legal provisions.

5 The Church Council provides the staff representation, upon request, with anonymized personnel key figures concerning the employees and the management of the General Church Services, within the framework of the provisions of the Law on Information and Data Protection³.

c. Consultation

1 The consultation encompasses the right of employees

of the General Church Services and the staff representation

to comment on topics that are personnel-relevant or where

consultation is desired or mandatory.

2 The Church Council and the management of the General Church Services

determine the form of consultation. It usually takes place in the context

of a discussion, a working group, or through a written statement.

3 The Church Council and the management of the General Church Services

are not bound by the outcome of a consultation.

8

Statute on Participation

181.404

1. Co-determination ensures that important decisions concerning

the overall ecclesiastical services and the staff representation are made with the consent of the employees.

Co-determination is usually preceded by a consultation in accordance with § 23.

2. Co-determination takes place in the form of a ballot or

a resolution passed at the assembly of employees.

3. Resolutions of the Church Council and the State Church concerning

the competent occupational pension scheme institution require, in accordance with

1 Applications for the amendment of the Participation Statute may be submitted at any time to the Church Council or the Staff Representative Body.

2 The following are authorized to submit applications

a. the Church Council,

b. the Staff Representative Body,

c. the Assembly of Employees,

d. every employee of the General Church Services.

3 Applications for amendment must be submitted in writing simultaneously to the Church Council and the Staff Representative Body.

4 The Church Council and the Staff Representative Body shall process applications for amendment of the Participation Statute in a parity-based procedure. The Parity Commission shall determine the procedure.

The staff representation shall be re-elected at the first regular re-election

meeting of employees taking place after the entry into force of this staff

co-determination statute.

representation

1 OS 75, 82; ABI 2019-12-13. Approved by the Church Council on December 4, 2019.

2 Entry into force: April 1, 2020.

3 LS 170.4.

4 LS 181.40.

5 LS 181.401.

6 SR 151.1.

1.4.20-108

9

employees are assigned, unless otherwise provided by the co-determination statute.

Abs. 2 VVO PVO requires the consent of the staff representative body.

6. Section: Final Provisions