The non-exercise of rights to participate in works council matters raises numerous legal and practical questions. This study examines the various instances of non-exercise, such as pure inaction, delegation, and waiver, while considering the fundamentals of works council law. It begins with a basic presentation of the systematics of participation rights. Following a discussion of the legal situation regarding pure inaction by the works council, a detailed investigation of the different delegation possibilities is conducted. The potential delegation recipients considered include committees, individual works council members, working groups, as well as the overall and group works councils. The study then comprehensively addresses the legal questions related to waiving participation rights, with a particular focus on the so-called indirect waiver through the conclusion of a works agreement. After outlining the development of case law, the approach of reduction competencies is developed, which aims to provide a practical and comprehensible distinction between permissible and impermissible arrangements, while also taking into account the issues that arise in urgent cases.