Niall Mackenzie joined Acas in May 2025 from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), where he was His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for North America, based at the British Consulate General in New York City.
The world of work is changing fast. New laws, shifting expectations and economic pressures are all reshaping how we experience work and how conflict shows up in the workplace.
That’s why today we’re launching Acas’s new 5 year strategy. This plan isn’t just for Acas, but for anyone who believes that better workplace relations can unlock stronger businesses, a healthier workforce, and a more productive economy.
Why conflict matters
Workplace conflict isn’t just uncomfortable - it’s costly. Conflict costs people their wellbeing, organisations their time and productivity, and the economy tens of billions of pounds every year.
At Acas, we see this first hand. Demand for our services is rising, with more calls to our helpline and more cases in early conciliation prior to Employment Tribunal consideration. Disputes are becoming more complex, with dismissals, pay and discrimination among the most common.
The truth is, Britain can – and must – do better at ‘disagreeing well’. If we can stop issues from escalating, or resolve them earlier, the benefits will be felt across both the economy and society.
A call to work differently
Our new strategy is built around a simple truth: preventing conflict is better than managing it, and managing it well is better than letting it drag on to the point of dispute.
We’re focusing our efforts on three ambitions:
- Healthier employment relations – helping employers and workers build healthy relationships from the start to prevent avoidable conflict.
- Better conflict management – supporting organisations to manage problems early and constructively.
- Earlier dispute resolution – ensuring that when disputes do arise, they’re resolved quickly and fairly, saving stress, time and cost.
The changes we want to see – in workplaces, sectors, and across the economy – will come from partnership. That means deepening our work with partners and stakeholders with reach into workplaces across Britain.
Why this matters now
The Employment Rights Bill signals a significant moment for Britain’s workplaces, bringing employment relations to the forefront of the national agenda. It comes at a time of rapid change: global events are testing the resilience of organisations and households, new technologies and ways of working are transforming jobs, and the make-up of the workforce is evolving.
These shifts bring opportunities, but also new pressures that can increase the risk of conflict if left unchecked – from adapting to new regulations and expectations to navigating generational change, hybrid working and industrial transformation.
Our new strategy sets out a joined-up, prevention-focused approach to help employers and workers adapt well, manage differences constructively, and keep Britain’s workplaces healthy and productive.
Disagreeing well
Acas will continue to be a trusted, impartial place to turn when problems arise. Employers and workers can continue to access our services at no cost. We also want to be part of building a Britain where healthy, productive workplaces are the norm, and where conflict is seen not as failure, but as an opportunity to find better ways forward.
Together, we can help Britain disagree well, make working life better for millions of people and boost the British economy.