Who is Acas?

In the employment world, it’s important to have a reliable source for advice and mediation. In the UK, that source is Acas (Advisory, Conciliation, and Arbitration Service). In this blog, we’ll delve into who Acas is and their invaluable role in ensuring fair employment.

History of Acas

Acas as it is today was founded in 1975 under the Employment Protection Act, and it was during the turbulent times of the 70s and 80’s that it became a household name. Over the decades, it has adapted to the changing landscape of modern work, and consistently supports employers and employees in resolving disputes and understanding their working rights.

Who is Acas?

Acas is an independent public body funded by the government. Their primary goal is to improve workplace relationships and promote best practices in employment. Acas provides free and impartial advice to employers, employees, and their representatives on all aspects of employment law, including employment rights, best practices and policies, and resolving workplace conflict.

What do Acas do?

Acas offers a wide range of services for employers and employees, including:

• Advice and guidance. Acas provides free advice on employment issues through their helpline or online advice.
• Acas plays a huge role in resolving workplace disputes without the need for employment tribunals.
• Training and events. Acas conducts training sessions, workshops, and conferences on various topics like conflict resolution, workplace diversity, and HR policies.
• Acas provide collective arbitration for disputes between an employer and a group of employees as well as individual arbitration for disputes about flexible working or unfair dismissal.
• Acas provides third-party mediation and talks to both sides in a work dispute to try and reach a mutual agreement.

Who do Acas Help?

Acas improves working relationships and environments by informally solving workplace disputes. Here’s who they help:

Employers

For employers, Acas can assist any company from small businesses to large corporations. As small businesses often lack HR resources, Acas can help small business owners navigate employment laws, develop work policies, and resolve disputes.

Employees

Both individual workers and union members can find invaluable support through Acas. Employees can find advice on their rights, address unfair treatment, and resolve conflicts with employers. This can include support cases for unfair dismissal, discrimination, and redundancy.

HR

HR professionals can also benefit from Acas as they offer extensive training programmes on employment law, conflict resolution, and effective management. Acas also provides resources to help HR teams stay compliant with current laws.

FAQs

Is there a cost for using Acas services?

Most of Acas’s services are free such as their helpline, early conciliation, and access to their online resources, however other services like mediation and training sessions may involve fees.

What kind of training does Acas offer?

Acas offers free online training courses and webinars and also offers more in-depth training and support that may involve a fee such as workshops and focus groups, employee surveys, and more.

Can Acas provide legal representation?

Unfortunately, Acas does not provide legal representation. They offer impartial advice and support to help parties resolve disputes and understand their rights and responsibilities. If you’re looking for legal advice or representation, you should contact an employment law professional.

Where can I find more information about Acas?

More information can be found on the Acas website which offers resources, contact details, and information about their services.

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