With businesses across the UK facing tough and unprecedented change during the COVID-19 pandemic, Acas has launched a new helpline to provide employers and small businesses with free, independent, and impartial advice on workplace issues. HMRC has asked us to make employers and businesses aware of this service.
“Employers and small businesses can use this free Facebook Messenger service to get help with:
- explaining employer duty of care and protection of employees;
- resolving disputes and improving employee relations and productivity;
- your legal duty to explore alternatives to redundancy, including role changes or retraining;
- staff consultation – what's required and how to make the process work well;
- working constructively with employee representatives and trade unions;
- processes for changing or ending contracts, or altering working hours; and
- making the most of hybrid working flexible working or homeworking arrangement.
To chat with an Acas adviser, businesses can send a private message to @acasorguk on Facebook Messenger.
They can also call the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100, Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm.
Further information and support can be found on the Acas website.”
Inspired by their recent YouGov poll which revealed that one in three employers have not spoken to employees about their mental health over the past year, earlier this month Acas has also launched a campaign to support small businesses and organisations with mental health in the workplace.
Acas have worked closely with their key partners to address the issues raised, by creating a framework for positive mental health at work, which provides practical and simple steps businesses can take to help support the mental wellbeing of their employees.
They also recently published guidance for employers and a series of guest blogs responding to the mental health challenge facing SMEs.