Legislation

ACAS Guidance - Bullying and harassment at work

This month, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (“ACAS”) have published updated guidance on bullying and harassment at work. ACAS have produced two separate guides which are both practical and user friendly. One guide is provided for employees and the other for employers and managers.

A brief explanation of the law affecting this area is given in both sets of guidance, together with useful examples of behaviour which may amount to bullying and harassment. As bullying and harassment are often difficult to recognise, the updated guidance on this sensitive issue is sure to be welcomed by employee and employer organisation alike.

The Employee’s guide can be viewed at: http://www.acas.org.uk/publications/AL05.html

The Managers and Employer’s guide can be viewed at: http://www.acas.org.uk/publications/AL04.html

Employment Relations Bill - Funding for trade unions

A new section may be inserted into the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 which would give power to the Secretary of State to allocate funds to trade unions. The aim behind the amendment, tabled by Gerry Sutcliffe, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, is to make funds available to trade unions in order to modernise their operations.

Expected modernisations as a result of the funding include training for union representatives and the development of union systems in an attempt to make them more accessible to young people and other under-represented groups.

The proposed amendment is awaiting parliamentary approval and Bite Size will update you on any further developments in this area.

Mr Sutcliffe's statement to the House of Commons can be viewed by clicking here

Dispute Resolution Procedures - Draft Statutory Instrument Further to the Government’s response to the public consultation on the Dispute Resolution Regulations and the publication of the ACAS Code of Practice (see Bite Size January 2004) the draft statutory instrument has now been published.

The Employment Act 2002 (Dispute Resolution) Regulations 2004 can be viewed at: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si2004/draft/20048455.htm

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