The Acas helpline is being expanded so that its advisers will be able to answer queries previously dealt with by other agencies. From 1st April 2015 the helpline has been able to answer queries on the following topics:
- the national minimum wage;
- working for an employment agency;
- working hours, rest breaks and holidays;
- agricultural workers rights;
- and working for a gang master
This is in addition to Acas’ long established service offering free and confidential advice on employment rights and workplace issues. Advice is accessible online at www.acas.org.uk/helplineonline or on 0300 123 1100.
Given that Acas is now charged with assisting parties in preclaim conciliation before a claim may be submitted to the employment tribunal, these additional services can only serve to assist in ensuring that only meritous claims reach the ET, including claims brought by agency workers.
It should also be noted that other bodies remain to whom complaints can be addressed should a party wish to make a complaint following advice form Acas, including HMRC, the Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate and the Gangmasters Licencing Authority, as well as Defra, for agricultural workers matters and the Health and Safety Executive.
Adrian, a highly experienced lawyer, founded Lawspeed in 1997. He is responsible for developing our extensive portfolio of products and services, including the widely used Lawspeed contract templates. Adrian is an expert on “recruitment law” and specialises in contracts, regulatory compliance, employment status and dispute handling. He is chair of the trade body the Association of Recruitment Consultancies, the only lawyer lead recruitment trade body in the UK. Adrian and his co-director Ravi devised Standards in Recruitment as a vehicle for helping drive up standards and compliance in the industry.
Adrian is our lead in discussions with the government over regulatory evolution. Apart from assisting with client support, Adrian’s primary role is research and development into methods of business delivery, our latest service Proterms being his most recent project. Adrian heads our IR35 lawyers team.