Dispute mediator expected to announce overwhelming support for settlements rather than heading for full tribunals

Dispute mediator Acas is expected to announce an overwhelmingly strong reception to a scheme intended to reduce the number of claims against employers that are taken to a tribunal hearing. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is due to announce this week that 98pc of people pursuing claims against employers are willing to try to reach a settlement under the new early conciliation service it runs, rather than heading for a full tribunal. The early conciliation scheme was introduced on April 6 and in its first month of operation Acas is understood to have received 4,000 applications, of which all but 2pc were willing to try for a settlement.



Under the scheme, anyone registering a complaint – ranging from a dispute over holiday pay to unfair dismissal or discrimination –is automatically prompted to see if they are willing to reach a deal ahead of a tribunal. If they are, Acas will contact the employer to explain that a complaint has been made but that the staff member is willing to try to negotiate a deal. If both the complainant and employer agree to try to reach a compromise arrangement, Acas will broker the talks....Read more here