Acas can support housing associations, co-operatives and other businesses in Scotland

Acas, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, helps organisations build positive workplace relationships to improve performance and working life.

It provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees, on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law, to improve effectiveness and enable growth. Whether you need to know about maternity rights, how to manage absence or change a contract, Acas can help.

Its expertise is based on millions of contacts with employers and employees each year, and Acas experts often write the codes that must be followed in the workplace.

Acas supports good relationships between employers and employees which underpin business success, but, if things go wrong, it can also help you try to resolve any workplace problems. Regardless of the size of your organisation, it can help.

What Acas does

Businesses across Scotland have faced tough challenges and unprecedented change over the last couple of years and many have needed to make difficult decisions about their workforce and their future. Acas is here to help. Acas' services are free to use:

• Its website www.acas.org.uk offers guidance on rights and responsibilities, disputes and problems at work and best practice. There is also a range of template letters, forms and HR documents that are free to download.
• Its free to use elearning modules are designed for both employers and employees and cover a wide range of employment issues. These modules can also be hosted on your LMS system. enquire here
• Got a question? for free impartial advice and guidance call Acas' confidential helpline on 0300 123 1100, open from 08:00–06:00 Monday to Friday. Acas takes calls from both employers and employees.
• Acas experts in Scotland deliver training courses, both digitally and face-to-face, on a wide range of topics, from management training and conducting investigations to TUPE see here for upcoming events.
• If you have four or more staff to train, it is more cost effective to have a session delivered directly to your workplace. These sessions can also be tailored to your business needs. Call Acas on 0300 123 1150 or complete our enquiry form and a trainer will call you back to discuss your requirements.
• Workplace mediation has the overriding aim to restore and maintain the employment relationship wherever possible. This means the focus is on working together to go forward, not determining who was right or wrong in the past. enquire here
• The workplace is constantly changing so it's important to keep up-to-date. Subscribe to Acas' newsletter
• Acas provides collective conciliation services to help employers and Trade Unions to reach agreement on disputes affecting groups of employees on issues such as pay and terms and conditions. There is no charge for its dispute resolution services.
• Acas delivers free to attend webinars. To register a place or view a previous webinar click here