Acas Helps Businesses Avoid Employment Tribunal Claims
Released
on: December 14, 2009, 9:35 am
Author: Acas
Industry: Human Resources
Acas, the employment relations service, has revealed it has
helped businesses avoid more than 2000 employment tribunal claims in
just seven months since the introduction of the Pre-Claim Conciliation
(PCC) service. Due to its overwhelming success, Acas recently expanded
the service to include all major types of workplace issues.
The PCC service aims to save businesses time, money and stress by tackling workplace
issues early to prevent costly and stressful employment tribunals. On average
employers spent just over three days using the PCC service, compared to nearly 14
days on a claim which escalates to an employment tribunal hearing.
Since the introduction of PCC, Acas has handled 3500 PCC referrals from the Acas
helpline and 70 per cent of these were resolved without going to an employment
tribunal. In fact, even when the
PCC service was not able to settle a workplace dispute, only four in ten referrals
progressed into a claim by the end of August.
Ed Sweeney, Acas Chairman, said: "It's reassuring that Acas' PCC service has
already helped businesses save a great deal of money - particularly in this economic
climate.
"Furthermore, the new Code of Practice should also help encourage better
communication and relationships, ultimately making businesses and employees happier
and more productive.
"Over time, as managers, HR professionals and employees become further accustomed
to resolving workplace disputes internally, savings will be even more significant."
In addition to the expansion of the PCC service, Acas has also expanded its helpline
to ensure impartial information on employment relations issues is more readily
available to employers and employees.
The PCC service was launched in April 2009 alongside the new Acas Code of Practice
on Disciplinary and Grievance Procedures following the Government's Dispute
Resolution Review in 2007. There are also a number of workplace training courses, which aim to help businesses manage conflict in the
workplace and update on employment law.
ENDS
About Acas:
Acas' aim is to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. It provides information, advice, training and
a range of services working with employers and employees to prevent or resolve
problems and improve performance. It is an independent statutory body governed by a
Council consisting of the Acas Chair and employer, trade union and independent
members.
Employers and employees can find out more about the Acas PCC service through the Acas Helpline (08457 47 47 47),
which is available from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturdays, or
through the Acas website.
For press enquiries please contact:
Lou Owen
Media and Marketing Officer
Acas National
Euston Tower
286 Euston Road
NW1 3JJ
020 7210 3920
www.acas.org.uk
2010
