New EWC representatives

29/09/2025

IKEA Černý Most

Jakub Lacika

Visual Merchandiser

IKEA Zličín

Michal Janák

Food Co-worker

Employees of IKEA Czech Republic and the trade union ZO UZO IKEA Stores Czech Republic will now be represented in the European Works Council (EWC) by Jakub Lacika. In case of need, he will be substituted by Michal Janák.

About Jakub

Jakub has been working at IKEA for 11 years. Since joining IKEA in 2014, he has gained experience in various departments – from checkouts and customer services to sales. For the past seven years, he has been working as a Visual Merchandising/Activity Co-worker at IKEA Černý Most. He has participated in several rebuilds of his home store as well as in international projects, for example in Budapest. Colleagues and friends describe him as empathetic, supportive, and a true team player – qualities that will guide him in representing his co-workers with care and commitment.
In his free time, he enjoys sports, especially swimming and running, taking care of his two cats, and also traveling and going on trips. His expectations in the EWC are to support progress, simplify processes, and turn words into action.

What is the EWC?

The European Works Council (EWC) is a body that brings together employee representatives from across Europe and enables them to engage in dialogue with IKEA management. Its purpose is to ensure that employees from different countries have the opportunity to:

  • receive information about important company management decisions,

  • be consulted on matters affecting employees across countries,

  • share experiences and strengthen cooperation between countries.

In other words – thanks to the EWC, employees have the chance to learn about significant changes before they take effect in individual countries, and at the same time bring practical perspectives into the discussion.

Why is this important for us at IKEA?

IKEA operates in more than 30 European countries. Decisions made at company-wide level directly affect us in the Czech Republic as well. Representatives in the EWC can draw attention to the specific needs of our workplaces in a timely manner and ensure that the voice of Czech employees is heard.

The history of IKEA's EWC

IKEA is among the companies that embraced the idea of the EWC shortly after the adoption of the European directive on European Works Councils in the 1990s. Since then, the EWC has met regularly to discuss management plans and to provide employees across Europe with important information. The Czech Republic has had its representatives in the IKEA EWC for many years and actively contributes to its work.

What lies ahead

The next regular IKEA EWC meeting will take place in October in Malmö, Sweden – the very place where IKEA has its roots. This will be an important opportunity to discuss the company's future plans and how they may affect employees in different countries.

And why should this matter to us?

Because the EWC is not just "something in Brussels or Sweden." It is a platform that ensures that your experiences and needs can have a voice in discussions with management at the European level. Our new representative, Jakub Lacika, will use this opportunity for the benefit of all IKEA employees in the Czech Republic – whether it concerns working conditions, benefits, or the impact of future changes.

If you have questions or suggestions that you would like our representative in the EWC to raise, do not hesitate to contact the committee of our trade union or Jakub directly.