PowerPoint is really a great tool for presentations, but is it also the best tool for a formal Request for Advice or a Request for Consent for the Works Council? PowerPoint (PWP) is a supportive tool designed to tell a story using fitting image material, making it more attractive when offering information. It is not meant to consist solely of text, and certainly not too much of it. But how does this relate to the formal information requirements of the Works Council?
The Power of PowerPoint (PWP)
Personally, I prefer PWP any day over the flashy Prezi. Yes, Prezi can do more, offering moving images as a possibility, and with the current addition of AI, it will undoubtedly become very popular again. You simply ask AI to make a good presentation, and there you go: a flashy presentation is born.
PWP might be more static, but it accompanies the thoughts that you actually develop yourself. As Professor Erik Scherder states: not thinking for yourself underdevelops your brain function. In every good presentation, there is a start, an ending, and a plot that you develop. That’s why PWP is such a great tool for training and presentations.
Unlike Prezi, it always works as a stand-alone tool, even when the WiFi cannot cope or drops out. It offers a calm way of presenting information in a time of excessive stimuli, and it is easy to extend with extra info when shared digitally after the presentation. For a training session, it provides a nice, logical step-by-step plan.
Ideal for the Article 24 Meeting
A Request for Advice can certainly be supported by PWP during an Article 24 meeting. Since this is an informal meeting—usually without official minutes—presenting key information visually is essential.
Looking back at the past financial year and looking ahead to the upcoming year can be well supported by PWP. The highlights are made visually available, but the actual story told during the presentation remains the essence.
Why PowerPoint Falls Short for Formal Requests for Advice
Increasingly, PWP is also used for formal Requests for Advice. What lacks in these cases is the full story, and mainly the underlying data of which the PWP is merely a summary. Crucial elements are often missing or very limited, such as:
- The detailed motivation
- The underlying research
- Supporting financial or organizational data
Because PWP is inherently a supportive presentation tool, using it as a standalone document shows it is not sufficient for formal information sharing as required by the Dutch Act on Works Councils (WOR). It often creates more questions than answers. Sometimes it even gives the impression that PWP is deliberately chosen to avoid liability regarding the information, suggesting the Works Council should just “read between the lines.”
Conclusion: A Request for Advice Requires Written Documentation
PWP can very well be used to support a presentation of information—that is exactly what the tool is made for. However, it cannot replace a comprehensive written document addressing the motivation and underlying research which led to an intended decision.
A PowerPoint is quickly and easily produced, but the underlying information must be formally presented to the Works Council, even if the intended decision comes straight from international Headquarters (HQ).
In short: Use PWP for what it is meant to do, but do not accept it as a valid substitute for a formal Request for Advice or a Request for Consent.