6.2.2 Industrial relations

In addition to these two government departments dealing with working conditions, the UK system of industrial relations has the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), a semi-independent body that mainly deals with dispute resolution issues between workers and employers. At its website there is information on employment rights, time off, worker consultation, trade union representation, equality and discrimination, parents at work, pay, discipline and dismissal.

These comprise the main official bodies, but in addition, of course, there are the trade union organisations and employer bodies that also have a keen interest in employment matters. The main TUC website is quite informative, but probably the best bet is to go straight to www.worksmart.org.uk, which has a special section devoted to ‘citizenship at work’, and which produces a very useful handbook, Working Together , containing student-friendly advice and activities associated with citizenship at work.