New figures from Acas, the Advisory, Consiliation and Arbitration Service, reveal that employment tribunals and potential employment tribunal claims passed to service for conciliation rose a quarter (24.9%) on last year.
Acas’ stated 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.
Research published in November last year by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research showed that for every pound spent by Acas brings a benefit of over £16 to those that use the service, generating almost £800m a year across UK businesses, employees and the economy.
Other headline statistics from its report include the fact Acas conciliation succeeded in reducing the potential workload of employment tribunals by 75%, slightly up on last year.
In addition, Acas claimed that 81% of workplaces reported an improvement in employment relations following intervention by Acas advisers compared to the 70% target that was set.
And 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%.
Ed Sweeney, chair of Acas, 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.”
The report set out its targets for 2009, which include preparing for the implementation of the new dispute resolution system, following the Gibbons review.
John Taylor, chief executive of Acas, said: “Much of our work over the next 12 months will focus on expanding our services and intervening earlier in individual disputes, in anticipation of the changes to the law from the Employment Bill, which is likely to come into effect in April 2009.” n
