ACAS launches early conciliation service

ACAS has announced that on 6 April 2014 it is launching an Early Conciliation Service.

Anybody thinking about making an employment tribunal claim will need to contact ACAS first.  ACAS will then offer early conciliation to try and resolve the dispute quickly and cost effectively.

Using ACAS early conciliation can help to avoid the need for an employee to go to an employment tribunal which can be costly, stressful and time consuming.

ACAS conciliators are expected to be impartial and professional and they help to clarify the most up to date requirement of employment law.

The service is free and can be used in most types of cases including unfair dismissal claims, workplace discrimination, redundancy payments or disputes around selection procedures, deductions from wages or unpaid notice/holiday pay, rights to time off or flexible working and equal pay.

ACAS has published service levels on its website which suggest that once ACAS receives a request for early conciliation, ACAS will telephone the person making the claim within a working day.  In that telephone call any details on the application form will be clarified and basic information about the dispute will be gathered.  The case will then be passed on to a conciliator who will aim to make contact with both parties within one working day of receiving the case.

Humphreys & Co. 14. 3. 14