New helplines for employers

The Race Relations Employment Advisory Service, which provides free and confidential strategic advice to employers, and Equality Direct, including a telephone helpline for employers on equality issues, have joined the advisory service ACAS. The move is seen as boosting ACAS's expertise in the field of race and sex equality and is aimed at offering a more comprehensive service. Acas chief executive John Taylor said: "This is a welcome move as it will strengthen our expertise in this very important area of employment relations."