What we do

Acas is an independent public body that receives funding from the government.

We provide free and impartial advice to employers, employees and their representatives on:

  • employment rights
  • best practice and policies
  • resolving workplace conflict

When things go wrong, we help to resolve workplace disputes between employers and employees.

Free Acas services

Advice

To get advice on employment law and workplace relations you can:

Getting help to resolve a workplace dispute

Early conciliation

We offer talks to try and make a legal agreement without going to an employment tribunal.

Find out more about early conciliation

Collective conciliation

We offer talks to help a group of employees and their employer reach an agreement.

Find out more about collective conciliation

Arbitration

Arbitration is when a third party makes a decision on a dispute to resolve it.

We provide:

  • collective arbitration – for disputes between an employer and a group of employees
  • individual arbitration – for disputes about flexible working or unfair dismissal, between an employer and an employee

Find out more about arbitration

Training

Our training includes:

Paid for Acas services

Mediation

Mediation is when a third party talks to both sides in a work dispute (usually about working relationships) to try to reach an agreement.

Find out more about mediation

Training and support

We provide training courses across England, Scotland and Wales

We also provide tailored support for your workplace to help you:

  • manage organisational change
  • run workshops and focus groups
  • carry out employee surveys and set up employee forums 
  • bring your management and staff representatives together to solve problems

How our services are performing

Our annual report and accounts

The annual report, facts and figures tables and financial statements set out Acas's activities and achievements to help workplaces in England, Scotland and Wales during the financial year 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Read the Acas annual report 2022 to 2023

Our service evaluations

We commission regular independent evaluations of Acas's advisory and dispute resolution services and our impact on the British economy.

Read Acas's service evaluation reports

Acas panel of independent experts

We have a legal duty to maintain a panel of independent experts to assist on equal value cases at employment tribunals, when required.

Find out more about our panel of independent experts

Last reviewed