The Acas Podcast

SMEs and mediation – what’s the problem?  In the latest Acas Podcast, Emma McClean, Acas Individual Dispute Resolution Manager, talks to Martin McTague, National Chair of the Federation of Small Businesses, to discuss early, informal dispute resolution, such as mediation. They also discuss the barriers small businesses face when introducing or using mediation in the workplace and the perception of Acas impartiality. Guidance and support:  Acas - For more information and guidance about mediation please visit the Acas mediation webpage.  FSB - For details about the legal and HR support available from FSB as part of its membership package, visit fsb.org.uk/membership. Mediation Conference:  UK Mediation Conference 2024 –25TH November 2024 | Congress Centre, London | 08:30-17:40 The UK’s leading conference bringing together Mediators, HR Professionals and Leaders. This industry-leading event will examine the conflict journey, the evidence supporting the case for a less formal approach[CR1] , including examples on what works (and what doesn’t) and partial mediation skills and techniques. To find out more visit our event page. To book your place visit our event registration page.Further reading: Making the case for mediation

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. 

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

In this episode, Acas Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Julie Dennis, and co-founder of Utopia and Token Man, Daniele Fiandaca, explore the importance of allyship in the pursuit for gender equality in the workplace, and in wider society.This episode will cover a variety of allyship-related topics, some of which include; what is allyship, how men and women engaging in and committing to allyship benefits everyone, and suggestions for what organisations and leaders can do to encourage allyship, and reduce gender disparities in their workplace.Episode Resources·      Equality and Diversity At Acas: https://www.acas.org.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity-at-acas·      Menopause and the Law: https://www.acas.org.uk/menopause-at-work/menopause-and-the-law·      Menopause at Work: https://www.acas.org.uk/menopause-at-work·      If Your Treated Unfairly at Work: https://www.acas.org.uk/if-youre-treated-unfairly-at-work·      Acas Training: https://obs.acas.org.uk/·     Token Man Website: https://www.tokenman.org/·     Masculinity in the Workplace report: https://www.weareutopia.co/publicationsTo contact an Acas adviser for specialist support, get in touchFor podcast and event updates sign up to our free email newsletterTranscript at https://www.acas.org.uk/podcast/allyship-positively-moving-the-conversation-of-gender-equality-forward

Supporting the menopause at work is important for both employers and their staff. In this episode we will discuss how organisations can create a supportive and inclusive environment, and the considerations they should be aware of to help their staff with menopause at work.We are joined by Haitham Hamoda, Clinical Lead for the menopause service at King's College Hospital and the immediate past Chair from the British Menopause Society, and Kate Nowicki, Director of Dispute Resolution at Acas.We discuss:·        How to handle menopause at work·        Creating a supportive environment·        Legal rights and considerationsEpisode resources:Advice and guidance on how to handle menopause at work: https://www.acas.org.uk/menopause-at-workThe British Menopause Society support and advice: https://thebms.org.ukSimone Cheng’s blog on ‘Normalising the menopause’: https://www.acas.org.uk/normalising-the-menopauseMichelle Piertney’s blog on ‘Breaking the silence on the menopause’: https://www.acas.org.uk/breaking-the-silence-on-the-menopauseTo contact an Acas adviser for specialist support, get in touchSign up to menopause and the workplace trainingFor podcast and event updates sign up to our free email newsletterTranscript available at www.acas.org.uk/podcast/discussing-menopause-at-work