2. Information and Consultation
Preparing for the ICE Regulations

3. Information and Consultation – things to think about
Employee representation
Methods and structures
Handling restructuring
Confidentiality
Resolving disputes
Maintaining effectiveness

4. Information What kind of information and what not!
Information or Consultation
Existing rules / law e.g. Contract of Employment, Health and Safety, Induction
Relevant
– substance, timing etc
- level

5. Employee Representation
Representation or not
TU, non-TU or mix
Facilitation and training

6. Methods and Structure
Must mirror organisational structure
Mix direct / indirect methods
Dictated by substance
Single or parallel arrangements
Multi-tiered organisations

7. Handling Restructuring
Must mesh with existing laws e.g. Redundancy, TUPE
Same or separate committee

8. Confidentiality
Most information is not confidential
Responsibilities, obligations and … penalties
Management to “spell out” confidential issues

9. Resolving Disputes
Nature of dispute
Substance, decision or process
Internal procedure
Acas

10. Maintaining Effectiveness
Management commitment
Training
Making a difference
Review, monitoring, evaluation

11. Getting Started : Options
Do nothing!
Aim for pre-existing agreement “inform and seek views”
Negotiated agreement “inform and consult”
Standard fall back provisions “inform and consult on …”

12. Checklist for getting started
Why are we doing this?
Commitment of Senior Management
Involvement / support of Workforce
What do people want?
Define what is information, consultation and negotiation
Define range of options, direct / indirect methods, representative structures
Develop draft structure
Does proposed structure support existing practices / procedures

13. Checklist for getting started (continued)
Secure workforce approval!
Majority support of employees voting in ballot
Majority of signatures
Agreement of employee representatives who represent the majority of the workforce

14. Information and Consultation – What is Acas doing?
In-depth sessions
Round tables
Training materials
Good practice guidance
‘Health check’ visits
Workplace training

15. Further sources of information
Acas helpline
Acas website
DTI website
National Minimum
Wage
Equality Direct