Early Conciliation Alan Hope Acas Scotland Thursday 11

* Early Conciliation Alan Hope Acas Scotland Thursday 11 September 2014

Early Conciliation • The background • The rationale

Early Conciliation– Main features • Obligation to notify Acas of intention to claim • Web-based form • Use of ECSO’s (Early Conciliation Support Officers)

Early Conciliation- Main features • Following notification to Acas, the claimant’s limitation period for making a tribunal claim is put on hold. • This “stop-the-clock” period allows conciliation to take place without the claimant needing to take legal steps to protect their rights • It creates more time to explore settlement than now • One calendar month initial period

Early Conciliation -Main features • Provisions for both early conclusion, and extension, of the limitation pause • Engaging with the conciliation process is voluntary • If conciliation is unsuccessful we will issue a Certificate and the claimant can make a Tribunal claim • Presenting in time remains the responsibility of the Claimant (not Acas) • At least one calendar month to present after EC

Early Conciliation – Main features • Case for life – an EC request is not a separate claim • Conciliation can still take place after the limitation pause comes to an end but before a claim is submitted • Conciliation offered after an ET 1

Early Conciliation – Intended impact • Bringing settlement forward • Aim is to avoid tribunal claims • ET 1 conciliation aims to avoid tribunal hearings

Early Conciliation- The story so far • Over 17, 000 EC Notifications in first quarter • 93% of prospective claimants agree to conciliation • 91% of prospective respondents agree to conciliation • 16. 5% of cases concluded with a COT 3 • 19% of prospective claimants indicated that they would not take further action

Early Conciliation- Practical tips: • Submitting the online EC Notification • ECSO contact with the prospective claimant • Group notification • Conciliation discussions

Acas contact information Acas helpline -0300 123 1100 ECSO team- 0300 123 1122 Acas website – www. acas. org. uk