Acas Reveals That Employment Tribunals Are On The Increase

ACAS has revealed that employment tribunals and potential employment tribunal claims passed to Acas for conciliation rose by a quarter (24.9%) on last year.

In its 2007/8 annual report, Acas conciliation reduced the potential workload of employment tribunals by 75%, while 81% of workplaces reported an improvement in employment relations following Acas intervention compared to the 70% set target.

Ed Sweeney, Acas Chair, said: "These figures from the annual report really speak for themselves. Acas has continued to play a central role in the employment relations arena not only in resolving disputes but also in providing valuable advice and guidance to employers and employees."

One of the high profile successes of the last year was the role Acas played behind the scenes in helping resolve the Royal Mail dispute alongside the Trades Union Congress, preventing widespread disruption for UK businesses. Acas also continued to address issues at the forefront of the workplace, including health and wellbeing and vulnerable workers. Pilot schemes in Birmingham and London aimed at helping vulnerable workers are ongoing.

Headline statistics from the report include:

• Acas conciliation succeeded in reducing the potential workload of Employment Tribunals by 75%, slightly up on last year.
• 81% of workplaces reported an improvement in employment relations following intervention by Acas advisers compared to the 70% target that was set.
• The percentage of users for whom guidance helped solve a problem at work or reassured them they had taken the right course of action was 76%, exceeding the target of 65%.