Acas publishes guide to accompany Code of Practice  

A revised draft Guide, to accompany the new Discipline and Grievance Code of Practice released last month, has been published by Acas. While the Code sets out general principles for handling disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace, the guide provides more detailed practical advice for employers and employees on day-to-day situations they face. In  November 2008, Acas published the draft version of its  revised Code of Practice on Discipline and Grievance’ which will come into force when the current statutory dispute resolution procedures are repealed in April 2009. Employment tribunals are obliged to have regard to the Code and any breach will allow a tribunal to adjust an award by up to 25%. While the Code sets out principles for handling disciplinary and grievance situations in the workplace, the aim of the Guide is to provide more detailed advice and guidance which is helpful to employers and employees, both in general terms and in individual cases.

Although tribunals are not required to have regard to the guidance as they are with the Code, the Guide, nevertheless, provides excellent practice advice about how to deal with day-to-day disciplinary and grievance situations. As such, along with the Code, it should form the basis for reviewing existing policies and procedures, together with forming the foundation upon which managers are trained in their application. The Guide can be viewed at: Acas Draft Guide