ADVISORY,
CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION SERVICE News Release issued by The
Government News Network on 6 February 2008
Acas responds to
announcement made by Pat McFadden at Acas/CIPD conference of 6
February 2008
Acas, the employment relations specialists, were today given a
huge boost with the announcement that they will receive up to an
extra £37 million of funding in the shake-up to simplify the
dispute resolution system.
The announcement was made at the Acas/CIPD annual conference by
Pat McFadden, the Minister for Employment Relations and signals
the government's recognition that Acas not only benefits
businesses and employees but also the wider economy.
In response to the announcement, Acas Chair Ed Sweeney, said:
"Acas provides a first-class service to employers and
employees, based on impartiality, integrity and expertise. We also
give the taxpayer outstanding value for money, with every pound
invested in us resulting in a £16 benefit to the economy.
"This new investment will enable us to increase our
effectiveness and spread the benefits of good employment relations
more widely. I am delighted by this news and BERR's
recognition of the unique and valuable role that we play."
The extra funding, over three years, will mean expansion for a
number of services including the Acas helpline, which already
answers nearly one million calls a year. Acas will also look to
provide more services that encourage good employment relations and
prevent disputes from happening at an early stage.
Pat McFadden said:
"The link between successful employment relations and
productivity is clear. Early action can often prevent the need for
tribunals, bringing enormous benefits to business and employees.
"We want to move from the current overly rigid and
legalistic process to one where there is more conciliation between
employers and employees.
"This new system will strike a balance between ensuring
workers can protect their rights through employment tribunals
while helping them to resolve disputes as early as possible."
Mr Sweeney went on to highlight a number of key challenges facing
employment relations in the times ahead. He said "We are
heading into an economic headwind and obviously this presents many
challenges for both employers and employees. For example pay
disputes in the public and private sectors still need to be
resolved, while the eyes of the world will be on Britain as we
build towards the 2012 Olympics. Good employment relations will be
central to delivering a successful games and there will be no
leeway in terms of meeting deadlines.
Mr Sweeney concluded "In both collective and individual
employment relations issues, Acas has a key role to play - much of
it in partnership with organisations like the CIPD. I am therefore
delighted that we have been able to stage this event, bringing
together the leading thinkers on employment relations in Britain today."
Notes to editors
1. Acas' aim is to improve organisations and working life
through better employment relations. It provides information,
advice, training and a range of services working with employers
and employees to prevent or resolve problems and improve
performance. It is an independent statutory body governed by a
Council consisting of the Acas Chair and employer, trade union and
independent members.
2. The Acas/CIPD (Chartered Institue of Personnel and
Development) conference, Building successful workplaces:
Employment relations in the 21st Century, was held at the QE11
conference centre in London. The keynote address was by Pat
McFadden, Minister of State for Employment Relations and Postal
Affairs, Department for Department for Business, Enterprise and
Regulatory Reform (BERR). Other speakers included, John Philpott,
CIPD chief economist and Professor John Purcell, Acas, Dame
Professor Carol Black, National Director for health and Work,
Sarah Myers, Group Head of Talent Resourcing and HR Services and
Dr Ursula Ferriday, Group Head of Occupational Health, Sky. The
conference focused on issues such as productivity and the skills
agenda, boosting workforce engagement and performance and health,
work and wellbeing in the workplace. The event was attended by 150 delegates.
3. This news follows a recent independent report by the National
Institute of Economic and Social Research which showed that for
every pound spent by Acas, over £16 is returned, generating
benefits worth almost £800 million a year across UK businesses,
employees and the economy. To view the full report visit http://www.acas.org.uk
*A Review of the Economic Impact of Employment Relations Services
Delivered by Acas" was carried out by Pamela Meadows at the
National Institute of Economic and Social Research and published
in November 2007.
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