Employment Tribunals

The procedural rules for the bringing of, and responding to, claims in the employment tribunal, and their subsequent management and determination, are set out in the Employment Tribunal Procedure Rules 2024 (ET Rules 2024), SI 2024/1155. For the early conciliation rules, see Practice Note: Early conciliation rules (rules applying from Sunday 20 April 2014).

The early conciliation requirement

Acas conciliation involves an independent Acas conciliation officer (also known as a conciliator) discussing the issues in dispute with both parties in order to help them reach a better understanding of each other's position. The conciliation officer tries to encourage the parties in dispute to come to an agreement between themselves so as to avoid the need for a tribunal hearing.

For further information on Acas conciliation generally, see Practice Note: Acas conciliation.

The early conciliation (EC) requirement (also known as mandatory Acas early conciliation) is an obligation on a prospective claimant to contact Acas with certain information prior to submitting a claim in the employment tribunal.

The EC requirement applies to 'relevant proceedings', ie:

•
those proceedings listed in section 18(1) Employment Tribunals Act 1996, which includes

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