In an individual capacity Barry Gibbs, employee relations consultant with MDN Fusion, has submitted comments to ACAS on a draft dispute resolution code. He was concerned that as drafted, the code would take line managers out of some matters that ought to be handled and be seen to be handled by them. Passing a dispute on to another manager could be seen as opting out of line management.
He suggested that this could detract from a line manager’s authority not only with the employee in question but also with others in the managed group. “Line managers” he said “should be seen to be firm and acting promptly on misconduct or employee grievances. This enhances the line management system and also promotes good employee relations.”
Barry accepted that a line manager should not conduct a dispute that involves them being accused of misconduct. The new ACAS Code is being produced in anticipation of Parliament passing an Employment Bill that will repeal the current statutory dispute resolution procedures.