In its annual report for 2016/17 published last week, Acas has found that early conciliation notifications in order to resolve individual claims have stayed about the same level as the year before.
In addition, of the 92,251 early conciliation notifications received in 2016/17 (92,172 the year before), only 17,500 progressed to a tribunal claim. As early conciliation is mandatory the majority of the notifications came from employees (95 per cent) with just 5 per cent from employers. In 38 per cent of cases where people took part in conciliation, the issue was resolved either through Acas or informally between the parties.
Unfair dismissal was the top issue accounting for a third of all notifications (33 per cent). This was followed by the Wages Act (28 per cent), breach of contract (14 per cent, working time (12 per cent), disability discrimination (11 per cent), sex discrimination (seven per cent), race discrimination (five per cent), redundancy pay (four per cent), public interest disclosure (three per cent) and maternity detriment (three per cent).
The report also found that:
- Acas was involved in conciliation to prevent or resolve disputes between groups of workers and their employer in 744 national and regional instances in a wide range of sectors.
- The Acas helpline answered 887,000 calls. The top three topic categories were discipline, dismissal and grievances; contracts; and redundancies, lay offs and business transfers. Over 500,000 users asked 1.4 million questions on Acas' automated online helpline advice service.
- Acas trained over 13,000 people on a range of workplace topics including the latest changes in employment law. 82 per cent of all organisations that were helped with problem-solving reported improvements in workplace relationships.
- Acas' website visits increased to nearly 12 million - a 100 per cent increase since 2013 and Acas guidance was accessed 8.4 million times.
New independent economic analysis, published in October 2016, has also shown that Acas' services continue to offer considerable value to the economy, with an estimated economic benefit of £13 for every £1 invested in the service.
Acas, which stands for Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, provides free and impartial information and advice to employers and employees on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. It is an independent and impartial statutory body governed by a Council made up of members from business, trade unions, academia and the law.
Jo Seery of Thompsons Solicitors said: “It shocking that less than 20% of employment issues raised with ACAS through mandatory early conciliation result in a tribunal claim. It is clear that the requirement to pay an employment tribunal fee has had a devastating impact on workers ability to obtain access to justice. A point recognised by the Supreme Court which (yesterday) ruled that the requirement to pay fees for employment tribunal claims is unlawful.”