Chapter I: Common provisions.

Employees have the right to express themselves directly and collectively on the content, conditions and organisation of their work. Individual access to the right of collective expression may be ensured through the use of digital tools, without the exercise of this right being able to disregard the rights and obligations of employees within the company.

The purpose of employees’ direct and collective expression is to define the actions to be implemented to improve their working conditions, the organisation of activities and the quality of production in the work unit to which they belong and in the company.

Opinions expressed by employees, irrespective of their position in the professional hierarchy, in the exercise of their right of expression may not be used as grounds for sanction or dismissal.

Employees’ right to direct and collective expression is exercised in the workplace and during working hours. Time devoted to expression is paid as working time.

The procedures for exercising the right of expression are defined as part of the negotiations on professional equality between men and women and the quality of life and working conditions provided for in Article L. 2242-1.

Where an agreement on the right of expression exists, the employer shall call a meeting, at least once every three years, with the representative trade union organisations in order to examine the results of this agreement and shall initiate its renegotiation at the request of a representative trade union organisation.

If the employer fails to take the initiative within a period of one year in the event of an agreement, or three years in the absence of an agreement, negotiations must begin at the request of a representative trade union organisation within fifteen days of the request being made. This request is forwarded to the other representative trade union organisations by the employer within eight days. The starting point for…

The agreement or the statement of disagreement, drawn up in application of article L. 2242-5, is filed with the administrative authority under conditions laid down by regulation.

In companies with separate establishments or groups of establishments, negotiations may take place at the level of the establishments or groups of establishments provided that all the separate establishments and groups of establishments are covered by the negotiations.

In the absence of an agreement provided for in Article L. 2242-11 or in the event of non-compliance with its stipulations, the agreement dealing with the right of expression includes stipulations on : 1° The level, method of organisation, frequency and duration of meetings allowing employees to express themselves; 2° The digital tools available in the company, allowing employees to express themselves; 3° The measures intended to ensure, on the…