Employment relations and the current issues for employers March 2010

What Acas does provides information and advice enables people to work together prevents and resolves disputes Settles individual employment rights claims Helps to build better relationships at work

What happens in a downturn? Need to react increases – time to reflect decreases Options reduce Capability and conduct issues are exacerbated Need to do more with less Uncertainty - for employer and employee

Common questions The right to unilaterally vary contracts of employment The right to lay workers off The right to keep workers on short time Consultation rights Correct redundancy process

Effective Line Management Employee engagement – Macleod Report Revised acas code of practice on handling discipline and grievance issues Recession – managing change HWWB agenda

HWWB Dame Prof Carol Black’s Review – work is good for you! A wide range of initiatives Fit Note – due to be implemented 6 April 2010

HWWB 2009 CBI average number of sick days fell from 8.0 to 7.4 In public sector it fell from 9.8 – 9.7 Costs economy £313 billion with 172 million days lost Stress is prime cause for long term absence

Retirement at 65? Following the High Court ruling that it is legal for employers to force workers to retire at the age of 65 and the announcement by the Government that it will bring forward a review the pressure is mounting to abolish the default age.

Equality Bill Due to become law in 2010 To combine all existing strands of equalities legislation Positive action? Pay information?

Holidays and long term sick Workers on long term sick leave continue to accrue holiday even though their sick pay has been exhausted. Where a worker is unable or does not have the opportunity to take annual leave they will be entitled to carry it over into a subsequent holiday year. A period of sickness whilst on holiday does not count towards an employees statutory entitlement

No more lay members at ET? As you may know the Employment Tribunal now have some hearing with a Judge sitting along and recent changes in legislation mean more cases can be decided by the Judge with no lay members. Are the Ministry of Justice undervaluing Lay Members? Here is a sign displayed on a door opposite the main reception at Newcastle tribunal, for all to see

Going… Going… Gone! ?