Management skills in difficult times by Ed Sweeney
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Transcript of Management skills in difficult times by Ed Sweeney
Management skills in difficult times
Ed SweeneyAcas Chair
Acas and its work
A dispute resolution service but much more: A dispute resolution service but much more:
• Website - over 4 million visits annuallyWebsite - over 4 million visits annually
• Helpline – up to 750,000 calls annuallyHelpline – up to 750,000 calls annually
• Workplace projects – key role helping organisations to Workplace projects – key role helping organisations to manage themselves bettermanage themselves better
• Individual conciliation – 80,000 cases annually (excluding Individual conciliation – 80,000 cases annually (excluding Equal Pay claims)Equal Pay claims)
A recession like no other?
Fundamental changes to the world of work:• Obvious effects to labour market, eg over 2.25
million unemployed• Some impacts less obvious, eg diversity, pay and
negotiating, unofficial action, migrant workers, recruitment and skills
But the impact on employment is uneven:• Some sectors hit harder than others• The public sector is not immune• Regional variations
Recession and conflict
• Protecting living standards or falling real incomes = conflict potential
• Preserving jobs or cutting ‘surplus labour’ = conflict potential
• Falling government revenues, increased expenditure demands, pressure on labour costs = conflict potential
• The need for a collective approach to handle conflict
• Rise in ET applications• Rise in calls to Acas helpline on redundancy
Individual conciliation cases
Rolling 12 month volume of cases received *
60000
62000
64000
66000
68000
70000
72000
74000
76000
78000
80000
82000
84000
Jan-
07
Mar
-07
May
-07
Jul-0
7
Sep
-07
Nov
-07
Jan-
08
Mar
-08
May
-08
Jul-0
8
Sep
-08
Nov
-08
Jan-
09
Mar
-09
An
nu
al v
olu
me
Helpline calls
Breakdown of most common helpline call subjects
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
May
-08
Jun-
08
Jul-0
8
Aug
-08
Sep
-08
Oct
-08
Nov
-08
Dec
-08
Jan-
09
Feb
-09
Mar
-09
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f re
cord
ed c
alls
Redundancies, Lay Offs and Business Transfers Contracts
Discipline, Dismissal and Grievance Holiday and Working Time
Managing in a recession
Requires greater line management skills….• Joint Acas and CIPD Guide on how to manage your
workforce in a recession
EG:• Communicate and consult with the workforce (TUs
and employee reps)• Maintain employee engagement • Establish fair and objective selection criteria• Support employees’ health and wellbeing
Managing in a recession
… but also needs a strategic approach:
EG:• Think about ways to minimise redundancies, eg
short-term working• Develop a redundancy strategy so it’s there when
you need it• Think long-term• Plan for the future