In this episode of the Acas Advice & Guidance podcast we talk to Angela Wright, Organisational Lead at Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation about introducing mediation into the workplace.

Our conversation covers the benefits and challenges of introducing mediation and will be of interest to anyone involved with conflict resolution in the workplace or people managers.

For more information on how Acas can support you with workplace mediation please visit our mediation page on the Acas website.

Further reading: Acas blog - Making the case for mediation.

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In recent years, the number of disability discrimination claims going to employment tribunal has increased. What is causing this increase and what are the characteristics of these claims?

Julie Dennis, Head of Inclusive Workplace Policy at Acas is joined by Dr Martin Mitchell, Senior Researcher at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to discuss the latest research commissioned by Acas that takes a closer look at the lifecycle of a disability discrimination tribunal claims. They also discuss what organisations and people managers can do to better support colleagues with disabilities.

Guidance and support:

Disability at work | Flexible working

Further reading:

Research: Characteristics and drivers of disability discrimination claims

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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

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Welcome to the first episode of the new Acas Advice & Guidance podcast. 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.

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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

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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 policy
• When and how to utilise occupational health
• The mistakes managers often make when managing sickness absence
• How to support staff through the sickness absence process

Transcript 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-work

Society of Occupational Medicine: https://www.som.org.uk/work-and-health/information-employers

Training 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-health

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