Does anybody here work for Acas

[Yesthatismychildsigh]

Hi, I’ve only today rejoined to share this, which I will tomorrow on the feminism board. I was a member for years but left following the Jeff security scare. I was here over the same time as Catthief Keith (RIP) in fact I rung her appalling manager to ask about mooring and give him a hard time. Zombie (again, RIP) Eatshitderek, etc. I was given some totally incorrect information repeatedly today in a phone call, even when I explained repeatedly it was incorrect. This is very worrying that a supposedly reputable helpline could give totally incorrect information. I’ve filled in a complaint form but just want maybe some more guidance on how to take this complaint a lot further.

What was the advice OP?

Unless it’s something very extreme you do just have to wait the complaint procedure out, starting with a response from them.

Thanks for your reply. Telling me repeatedly that gender is a protected characteristic under the equality act. Someone will have a nasty shock one day if they’re told that and try to act on it. I know gender reassignment is, but she just wouldn’t have it. Quite scary that Acas are giving out totally incorrect information, and not even willing to check to see it’s incorrect when told so. I wouldn’t mind, I’d rung up to ask for advice about possible religious decriminalising, didn’t anticipate having this conversation at all.

*possible religious discrimination on an application form. Sorry, fat fingers, small phone.

You’ve already filled out a complaint form. I’m not really sure what you’re expecting anyone else to do?

ACAS advisors aren’t qualified lawyers. They’re literally employees reading from a script.

(and arguably, gender IS covered under the definition of “gender reassignment” under the EqA although that hasn’t been confirmed by an appellate court yet)

Gender reassignment was mentioned separately. I’m not really expecting anyone to do anything.

*anyone on here to do anything. And if that’s on the script then they have got it so very wrong.

Presumably the religious discrimination is about same sex facilities though, which are explicitly laid out in the Act and requires no court ruling.

I don't work for ACAS but have had dealings with them / referred clients to them in previous roles. As a PP said, there's not a lot more you can do until they respond to your complaint, as of course you need to give them the opportunity to investigate and address your concerns. You need to follow their process, which will hopefully give you a satisfactory outcome.

It's worth thinking about what you would like to happen, so you can be clear in your own mind what would resolve this complaint for you. e.g. would an apology and assurance that the member of staff has been spoken to / reminded of the legislation / retrained be enough? Do you want to push for this person to be formally disciplined?

I think ACAS record all of their phone calls, so this should help.

I'm a bit hazy on this next point, so someone else might be along with better information. As ACAS is part of the BEIS you might be able to eventually escalate a complaint, via them to the PHSO...not sure though and I would hope that with a recording of the call this issue should be resolved long before it needs to go so far.

BEIS

Should be a fairly straightforward one by the sounds of it OP, even the advice page about the EA2010 and protected characteristics say sex, not gender.

Sounds like a staff training issue.

Start having a think about what sort of outcome you would like, and if it is reasonable. But it doesn’t sound like something that would require being escalated outside of the usual complaints process.

Heres the link to the page I mentioned: https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-and-the-law

Have you tried calling again to speak to someone different?

Brilliant advice from @Serenity45

The religious discrimination was about an application form, absolutely nothing to do with facilities or sex or gender. Basically It was when she started listing the protected characteristics and never once mentioned sex, I realised that she was wrong.

Thank you serenity and user147. I’m not sure what I want, I think the staff needs to be retrained on this, and on listening when told they’re wrong, and would they mind just checking, which they weren’t happy to do. I don’t think I’d like them to lose their job but they do need to be re trained. I’m a very calm person, have to be due to my job, and was at no point rude, even when stating that the information they were giving at that point was incorrect. I’m not bothered about an apology if it’s the assistant that was wrong, and it’s not Acas that are responsible for this.

I don’t know why you’d presume that, overthehill. It absolutely wasn’t anything to do with facilities, sex or gender.

FWIW I don't think this is a widespread issue with ACAS. I did some training with them a few weeks ago, one of the trainers was the team leader of the advisors in that particular regional office. We went over the protected characteristics and they were correct wrt sex and gender re-assignment.

Most likely a training issue for that individual I would guess.

I took advice from acas about bullying. I was fired when I acted on it!

Thanks for that reassurance, Prof. That’s a shame, crows, I’ve never dealt with them before, but I’ve only heard good things previously.