Acas uses cookies to ensure we give you the best experience and to make the site simpler. Find out more about cookies.
Call our Helpline on 0300 123 1100 for free and confidential advice
Search siteSearch
clear text
Search
Early Conciliation
The free, fast and less stressful alternative to an employment tribunal for resolving workplace disputes
Early Conciliation is now available for anybody thinking about lodging an Employment Tribunal claim. Contacting Acas will be a required step from 6 May.
At Acas, our advice is always that it is best for employers and employees to resolve disputes as early as possible. Reaching a settlement through conciliation is quicker, cheaper and less stressful for all concerned than a tribunal hearing.
The Early Conciliation process
If you intend to lodge an Employment Tribunal claim, you will first have to notify Acas by completing a simple Early Conciliation notification form.
Acas will contact the potential claimant or representative within two working days of receiving the form. We will gather basic information on the dispute itself and provide information about Early Conciliation. The case will then be passed to a conciliator who will aim to make contact with both parties and talk through the issues to see if a solution can be found.
The Early Conciliation explained leaflet [128kb] covers how a request for Early Conciliation is made, how Early Conciliation can help, how long it lasts, what happens if conciliation is successful and what happens if an agreement isn't reached during the process. Find out about the process of reaching a settlement from the Early Conciliation flowchart [17kb].
Find out more about conciliation and how it works from the Acas conciliation services Q&A.
Find out more about how much time and money can be saved by considering conciliation as an alternative to the Employment Tribunal from our infographic (available to view on the left).
Watch Acas Conciliator Andrew Cowler talk about Early Conciliation
Acas Early Conciliation transcript [26kb]
What are the benefits of Early Conciliation?
Using Early Conciliation will save people the time, cost and anxiety of facing an Employment Tribunal.
Conciliators will help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and ways of resolving it.
Independent research has found that the average cost to an employer of resolving a case through Pre Claim Conciliation (the forerunner to Early Conciliation) is just £475, with employers spending on average one day on a claim, compared to an average of £3700 and four days for an Employment Tribunal.
Early Conciliation gives both parties up to a calendar month to explore resolving their dispute using the services of an Acas conciliator. It can be shorter, or up to 14 days longer according to need.
When Early Conciliation has finished you will have at least one calendar month in which to submit a tribunal claim.
It's confidential - nothing you tell us will be passed on to anyone else unless you agree. Most tribunal proceedings are public.
It's voluntary - both parties must agree to take part before the process can start, and either can change their mind at any time.
It's not an "either/or" option - if you can't reach an agreed outcome you can still to go to a tribunal. But Acas will continue to offer support to find a resolution until the Tribunal hearing itself.
It's independent - Acas doesn't represent either employers or employees nor are we part of the Tribunal. Our expert conciliators don't take sides or make judgements. Our role is simply to help people find a solution.
It's professional - Acas are the experts in helping people deal with problems at work.
It's free.
What type of issues will Early Conciliation help resolve?
Early Conciliation can help resolve the majority of workplace disputes which may lead to an employment tribunal, 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
equal pay.
After Early Conciliation is introduced, anybody who wishes to lodge a claim with an Employment Tribunal will have to provide an Acas Early Conciliation Reference Number. There are a limited number of exemptions that may apply, and the Employment Judge can decide whether they are relevant. People can always notify Acas first, and we will try to help find a resolution.
Share to help us increase awareness of Acas #EarlyConciliation
Please share information about Acas Early Conciliation with your friends and colleagues.
Simply click on the social media icons featured at the top of this page. If you are on Twitter don't forget to use #EarlyConciliation in all related tweets.
Stay up to date - register to receive the Acas newsletter
We will be providing regular updates on Early Conciliation and what it will mean for employers via our popular e-newsletters. Register for these updates and Sign up for Acas news and notifications.
Also if you work for a trade union we will be including updates on Early Conciliation in our Trade Union update. Sign up for the free Acas Trade Union e-newsletter and other Acas news.
Other dispute resolution and advisory services available from Acas
Help Resolving Disputes
Business solutions
Acas Helpline
Helpline Online
Advice A-Z
Acas Model Workplace
Related Acas press releases and media coverage on Early Conciliation
Acas expertise crucial to success of Early Conciliation
Legislation finalised to support launch of Early Conciliation
Positive results from Acas research support the launch of Early Conciliation service
Zero hours, pay and early conciliation set to be key workplace issues for 2014, says Acas Chief Exec
CIPD - Chief executive of Acas, Anne Sharp, on how to stay out of tribunals
Pay and Benefits - Q&A With Anne Sharp on Early Conciliation
Public Sector Executive - Early Conciliation
The Law Society Gazette - 'Seismic' changes for employment lawyers
Early Conciliation exemptions
Downloads click to expand contents
Offsite Links click to expand contents
Share on linkedin Share on facebook Share on twitter Share on email
Desktop site