Acas Launches New Online Business Tool

LONDON, November 29, 2010 - Acas, the employment relations service, has launched a new free online
tool to help businesses identify and resolve problems at work.

The Acas Model Workplace (www.acas.org.uk/modelworkplace) helps
employers and HR managers assess the effectiveness of people management
(www.acas.org.uk/) in their organisation. It offers practical guidance
on maintaining good employment relations and directs employers to other
useful resources to address and prevent potential problems.

The Model Workplace consists of ten key workplace topics from equality
and diversity to recruitment and managing change. Each topic contains
multiple choice questions with Acas good practice advice shown for each
question. After completing a module, users are given a rating of red, amber
or green, and advice based on that rating to assess the organisation's
employment practices.

Early findings into the effectiveness of the tool demonstrate around 35
per cent of users are from smaller businesses with 10-49 employees. The most
popular topic is recruitment, selection and induction.

Ed Sweeney, Acas chair, said: "The Model Workplace costs businesses
nothing to use but could save time, money and stress by offering preventative
guidance on where improvements could be made.

"We know that the tool has proved particularly popular among smaller
businesses that don't necessarily have in-house professional HR support,
however businesses of any size are likely to find the tool useful."

Sarah Anderson, small business representative and Acas Council member,
says: "The Acas Model Workplace helps businesses access the right support and
guidance from the employment relations experts. Businesses need to understand
how to get things right at work and the impact of changes in employment
legislation. The tool is free to businesses and can help prevent potential
problems further down the line."

The Model Workplace has been designed to be flexible so employers can
complete modules in sections and at their own pace. Employers can complete as
many modules as they like. Each module contains 7-10 questions and takes ten
minutes to complete.

Businesses can register to use the tool which allows them to save their
results and revisit them at a later point or simply complete the modules but
not save results.

The online diagnostic tool can be accessed by visiting the Acas website.

About Acas:

Acas' aim is to improve businesses and working life through better
employment relations. It provides information, advice, training and a range
of services working with employers and employees to prevent or resolve
workplace grievances (www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2178) and
improve performance. It is an independent statutory body governed by a
Council consisting of the Acas Chair and employer, trade union and
independent members.

    For more information about Acas or this PR, please contact:

    Lou Owen
    Media and Marketing Officer
    Acas National
    Euston Tower
    286 Euston Road
    NW1 3JJ
    +44(0)20-7271-3920

    www.acas.org.uk

For more information about Acas or this PR, please contact: Lou Owen, Media and Marketing Officer, Acas National, Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road, NW1 3JJ, +44(0)20-7271-3920