Early Conciliation (EC) coming in

A range of legislative measures are going through Parliament in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill to encourage long term growth for businesses in a move to promote economic dynamism and remove the barriers to innovation and enterprise.

Measures include addressing the worries of businesses on employment tribunals which can be costly and damaging for employers.

The process of streamlining the employment tribunal process has been under scrutiny for some time, culminating in the government announcing its intention to introduce Early Conciliation (EC). From 6 April 2014, there will be a new duty on the parties and ACAS to explore the option of early conciliation (EC) in employment disputes before a claim is issued.

It is hoped that the changes will prove beneficial to employers by reducing the likelihood of a claim going to tribunal as well as reducing costs.

These are important changes and they will have a big impact on employers, who need to be aware of Early Conciliation and how it will work in practice when it comes into force.

Further articles regarding Early Conciliation and what employers should know, will follow in later editions of our newswire as the reforms progress.

For more information, please visit or contact Richard Woodman, Gemma Ospedale or Caroline Doran.