Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
(Acas)
Acas is a publicly funded organisation that provides free, impartial advice on employment law and workplace relations. Before bringing a claim in the Employment Tribunal, claimants must contact Acas to go through Early Conciliation. Acas also offers paid conciliation and arbitration services, as well as codes of practice that tribunals take into account when assessing cases.
Acas (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) is a statutory body set up under the Employment Protection Act 1975. It provides free online guidance, a telephone helpline (0300 123 1100, Monday–Friday), and model employment policies. Before almost all Employment Tribunal claims, potential claimants must notify Acas and go through Early Conciliation — if this step is missed the tribunal will reject the claim. Acas conciliators are impartial; they do not advise either party. Acas Codes of Practice (e.g. on disciplinary and grievance procedures) are taken into account by tribunals — an employer who unreasonably fails to follow the code may face an uplift of up to 25% on any compensation awarded. Acas also offers paid individual and collective conciliation for complex disputes, and arbitration as a binding alternative to a tribunal hearing in unfair dismissal and flexible working cases.
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