06.11.13
Acas publishes redundancy guidance for SMEs
New guidance has been launched to help small and medium-sized businesses handle redundancies. Acas has provided a guide for businesses seeking to make fewer than 20 people redundant.
A risk of small-scale redundancies can occur if an employer needs to close or move part of their business, make cost savings, reorganise the way their business is run, or sell the business to another company.
Acas recommends first considering alternatives first; including flexible working, stopping recruitment, retraining staff or reducing overtime. The guidance provides a seven-step plan to talk it through.
Acas chair Ed Sweeney said: “This guide will be particularly invaluable for smaller employers, helping them to understand the right way to handle redundancy.
“In 2012/13, we handled around 930,000 calls to our helpline and one in five callers asked about redundancy related issues. Our new guide builds on our knowledge as workplace experts to help business owners understand the regulations around small-scale redundancies with top tips on how to handle or prevent them.
“A better understanding of the law can make the difference between managing staff well and potentially facing a costly and stressful employment tribunal if things aren’t handled correctly.”
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