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