The Acas Podcast

This is the first in a series of Acas advice and guidance podcasts. In this shorter format series, we will discuss the key-points of the latest employment relations issues and will sign-post to further advice, guidance, and support.  In this episode we will be discussing what you need to know about flexible-working – What it is, the main changes and what you need to do.  For more information visit the Acas flexible working page. 

Inclusive workplaces – supporting women through menopause In this episode we discuss how workplaces can better support women going through menopause. Helen Tomlinson discusses her role as the Governments first ever Menopause Employment Champion and Kate Nowicki gives her thoughts and observation from her role as Acas Menopause Champion.  We’re joined by:  ·        Helen Tomlinson – Head of Talent (UK & Ireland) for the Adecco Group and Menopause Employment Champion  ·        Kate Nowicki – Director of Dispute Resolution for Acas. We discuss:  ·        The role of allyship·        Importance of workplace culture ·        Implementing a menopause policy   Transcript available here:    Episode resources:  Further reading. Menopause at work guidance: https://www.acas.org.uk/menopause-at-work Menopause and the law: https://www.acas.org.uk/menopause-at-work/menopause-and-the-law  Upcoming events:. Conference: Living and working with menopause  https://obs.acas.org.uk/ViewEvent.aspx?EventId=207038  For podcast and event updates sign up to our free email newsletter. 

In this episode we will explore how employers can support their staff with reasonable adjustments for mental health, creating a healthy work culture and demonstrating a commitment to good practice.We’re joined by:Jo Yarker, Managing Partner at Affinity Health at WorkJulie Denning, Managing Director of Working To Wellbeing and Chair of the Vocational Rehabilitation AssociationFrancoise Woolley, Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing at AcasWe discuss:what reasonable adjustments for mental health arewhat the law sayssupporting health and wellbeingTranscript available at www.acas.org.uk/podcast/mental-health-at-work-reasonable-adjustmentsEpisode resources:Find out more about reasonable adjustments for mental health at workYou can also:read research and case studies about reasonable adjustments for mental healthfind training on mental health in the workplace Use our templates for:making a mental health reasonable adjustment requestconfirming mental health reasonable adjustmentsreviewing and monitoring reasonable adjustments for mental healthNICE guideline: Mental wellbeing at workFor podcast and event updates sign up to our free email newsletter

In this episode, Acas Senior Learning and Development Manager Garry Besford is joined by Acas apprentices to discuss apprenticeships and how they can benefit the individual and the organisation.We discuss:·      What an apprenticeship is·      The benefits of hiring an apprentice·      What makes a good apprenticeEpisode resources:https://www.acas.org.uk/about-us/job-roles-at-acas/acas-apprenticeshipshttps://www.acas.org.uk/young-workers-apprentices-and-work-experience/working-hours-for-apprenticeshttps://www.gov.uk/become-apprenticeRead Ben Littlewood's blog where he shares an apprentice's guide to loneliness at work and what support Acas can offer: https://www.acas.org.uk/an-apprentices-guide-to-loneliness-at-work 

In this episode Acas Area Director, Paul Beard, President of the Society of Occupational Medicine, Shriti Pattani and the Managing Director of the Ape Group, Alfie Payne unpack the topic of sickness absence, offering managers first-hand advice and best practice on how they can better manage it.We discuss:What makes a good absence policyWhen and how to utilise occupational healthThe mistakes managers often make when managing sickness absenceHow to support staff through the sickness absence processTranscript available at: https://www.acas.org.uk/podcast/sickness-absence-how-employers-can-better-manage-sick-leave Episode Resources:Acas’s Absence from Work Guidance: https://www.acas.org.uk/absence-from-workSociety of Occupational Medicine: https://www.som.org.uk/work-and-health/information-employersTraining on sickness absence in the workplace here.Read Dr Kabir Abraham Varghese (Society of Occupational Medicine) blog on referring employees to occupational health: https://www.acas.org.uk/helping-smes-understand-occupational-healthFor podcast and event updates sign up to our free email newsletter

It is important for employers to recognise and take steps to reduce work-related stress for their staff, encourage them staff to seek help at the earliest opportunity if they begin to experience stress.We are joined by Rob McGreal, HSE Policy Lead for work-related stress and mental health and Francoise Woolley, Acas Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing.We discuss:·        What is work-related stress·        Legal considerations·        Supporting health and wellbeing Transcript available at https://www.acas.org.uk/podcast/work-related-stress-lifting-the-pressure-at-workEpisode resources:Advice and guidance on how to support mental health and wellbeing at work: https://www.acas.org.uk/supporting-mental-health-workplaceTraining on mental health in the workplace hereCaroline Bradshaw’s blog on ‘Make it routine to prevent work-related stress’: https://www.acas.org.uk/make-it-routine-to-prevent-work-related-stressKate Nowicki’s blog on ‘Handling change, avoid stress’: https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/blog-handle-change-avoid-stressHSE stress and mental health at work advice and guidance: https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/HSE Working Minds Campaign: https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/working-minds/The campaign is calling for a culture change across Britain’s workplaces where recognising and responding to the signs of stress becomes as routine as managing workplace safety.For podcast and event updates sign up to our free email newsletter