In the first year evaluation the Works Council noted that cooperation with the various stakeholders was going smoothly. There is a healthy balance between substantive discussion and informal meetings / talks. There is room for professional support of the Works Council by a team of experienced experts. As with the Works Council, other a.s.r. bodies have also changed their composition. The Executive and Supervisory Boards both started in their current composition fairly recently. So far, the Works Council is pleased to note that both bodies are functioning well, both among themselves (countervailing power) and in cooperation with the Works Council.

The Works Council stands for strong employee participation and considers it important to be a good discussion partner for all stakeholders.

In its activities and conversations, the Works Council places special emphasis on:

• Ensuring that employees are future-resilient.

• Ensuring that diversity, equality and inclusion are safeguarded throughout the organisation.

During 2021, the Works Council was consulted on, or notified about, the following topics, among others:

Finance Committee

• (half) yearly figures

• preview

• financial market developments

Social Policy Committee

• HR affairs

• risk inventory and evaluation

Works Council-wide

• organisational changes

• COVID-19 related matters

• strategic personnel planning

• (proposed) appointment of Ewout Hollegien

In total, two requests for advice and three requests for consent were processed by the Works Council. Various requests for advice were also dealt with in the subcommittees.