the employment relations service

improving organisations and working life

through better employment relations
 Lea Hopton
Acas East Midlands
Acas is

Independent

Confidential

Practical

Impartial

Up to date
Acas ambition is to

Improve organisations and working life

through better employment relations
To achieve it

We provide up-to-date information, independent

advice, high quality training and a range of services to
help employers and employees solve problems and
work together effectively
The role of Acas

prevent or resolve disputes between employers

and their workforces

settle complaints about employees' rights

provide information, advice and training

encourage people to work together more

effectively
in 2007/2008 Acas received

151,249
Applications to employment tribunals for conciliation
covering a total of 227,782 claims (jurisdictions)
in 2007/2008

75%
of potential hearing days saved consequent upon
settlement or withdrawals within the conciliation
window
benefits of individual
conciliation

voluntary agreement (and withdrawals)

fewer tribunal hearings

lower cost to the parties than tribunal

not in public domain

less stressful
the role of Acas

We provide impartial information and advice

in 2007/08 Acas dealt with

885,353
calls through our helpline

Top issues:
discipline, dismissal and grievance
contractual matters
redundancy, lay-off and business transfers
Training

Key points on employing people designed for small

businesses

In-depth sessions on employment issues for HR

specialists

Training specially designed for individual

workplaces

2,500 training sessions were held in 2007/08

Charges for Acas services

Acas charges for:

training

some in-company work

some advisory publications

All our other services are free of charge

 Website

In 2007/08 there were over three million visits.

A - Z of work

Rights at work section

Online training package and online booking for

training sessions

Publications free to download or purchase online

Publications

Good practice advice, including sample forms, letters,

surveys, etc

Almost 200,000 copies of our guidance were sent to

customers in 2007/08

'Bestseller' continues to be on the subject of discipline

and grievance with over 4,000 copies of our code or
handbook on this topic purchased in 2007/08

Publications free to download or purchase online

the employment relations service
Handling Redundancies

Is there an alternative
Have you followed your redundancy procedure
Consult employees
Agree/use fair, objective selection criteria
Calculate redundancy pay
Notice pay
Handling Redundancies

Risk of Tribunal Claims

Risk of discrimination
Pool for selection
Three step process for dismissals
Other reasons for dismissal