Acas support for public sector organisations undergoing change

We know that the next few years will be a challenging period for public sector bodies and their employees as they try to reduce costs in line with the Government's programme for reducing the public spending deficit. Many savings will inevitably be made through reducing employee numbers and restructuring organisations.

As a public body ourselves and as an authority on change management and employment relations, we are in a position to be able to offer not only a range of services that can help you through difficult times but also a unique understanding of the public sector and the challenges it faces.

View also our dedicated Acas support pages for;

NHS organisations

Local Government

Central Government

Trade Unions

How Acas can help the public sector

Acas Chief Conciliator, Peter Harwood, talks about the service.

You can trust Acas. You can talk to us in confidence and we will help you and your workforce find solutions. You don't have to be in dispute. We don't impose decisions on you. We have over 35 years experience in helping organisations reach long lasting solutions to employment relations issues. This includes extensive experience working with a wide range of public sector organisations across Great Britain. In the last 18 months we have worked with over a thousand public sector organisations on critical employment relations areas including:

People issues
Maintaining and enhancing service delivery during difficult times
Consultation, negotiation and working with trade unions
Equipping line managers with skills in handling difficult conversations
Restructuring in the workplace
Communicating change
Managing redundancy processes
Compensation schemes
Changing working patterns and hours
TUPE.

Acas has regional offices throughout Great Britain. Let us know how we can help you by completing our online enquiry form.

We produce a range of specialist advice and guidance around key areas, including the following.

See below for more of our guidance.

The Acas approach

We are:

impartial
non-profit making
confidential
authoritative
practical
independent.

We can take the role of 'critical friend' to the public sector and you can talk to us in confidence. An Acas employment relations expert can act as a sounding board and offer a practical and impartial view to help prevent issues escalating. We work to minimise the adverse impact of change and to help you to create conditions for future success. Our approach is to help you find workable solutions for you and your workforce. We don't go for the quick fix; our intention is to establish lasting solutions.

We don't force you into taking particular measures; rather we advise and demonstrate the benefits of alternative approaches. We show you what has worked elsewhere and the pros and cons of different approaches. We remember that at the heart of this are people.

Our approach is based on good practice derived from what our advisers see actually working in organisations they deal with. Our advice and guidance is endorsed by the Acas Council which comprises representatives from employer and employee organisations such as the CBI and TUC, as well as leading employment relations academics and employment lawyers.

Message from our Chair

"Acas stands ready to help the public sector and their employees through these difficult times. Through decades of experience working with both public and private sectors, we understand the stresses that many organisations are now facing, including issues around restructuring and dealing with an uncertain and potentially unengaged workforce.
Real people are being affected, real jobs lost and organisational delivery will, in many instances, be restructured. We recommend communication and early engagement with the issues and transparent approaches through every step of the change process.
We also need to consider those who remain in their roles. We need to continue to deliver public services and add ongoing value to public spend areas in challenging and changing times. Acas is able to help support the change management processes of public sector organisations and assist in developing new frameworks for employee engagement."

Ed Sweeney, Acas Chair

"Acas is always my first port of call for accurate information and guidance on important employment relations issues."
Gill Bellord, Director for Core Services, NHS Employers

Contact Acas today

We advise that organisations contact Acas as early in the change process as possible. We would welcome the opportunity to talk through any needs you may have and all discussions are confidential and without obligation. Complete our online enquiry form or call our customer service team on 08457 383736. An advisor will contact you to talk through your needs further.

Further Acas services and guidance

Services

Guidance

Tools

The free, interactive Acas Model Workplace, aimed at people managers, has 10 modules, including one on Change Management